Local Food Programs Help Fill Void
Food Bank Offers Purchased Food At Discount Prices
POSTED: 5:46 pm MST June 20,
2009
UPDATED: 11:07 am MST June 24,
2009
PHOENIX -- More and more Arizonans need help to put food on the table.The Department of Economic Security reported that 185,804 people received Nutrition Assistance, formerly food stamps, in April 2008.In April 2009, that number jumped to 812,359 people.Tina Butler and Dave Arballo said they are struggling to make ends meet.To put food on the table, they shop at St. Mary’s Food Bank’s Food Value Club."Right now I work for the school district, so I'm out of work and I can't find a job,” said Butler. “I've been looking for one."The couple said they usually get two to three weeks of food through the program.It offers food at discount prices that can be purchased with cash or food stamps.A customer who spends at least $16, leaves with as much as $30 worth of food."The biggest thing is that it's open to anyone," said Chet Provorse, Education Program Manager at the food bank.Provorse said the program's use is up 63 percent in just the last three months.It offers military discounts."I think it also allows people to come and purchase the food that they need with dignity, there's no long applications, there's no questions about your background," said Provorse.
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