The Pros And Cons Of Food Stamp

There are a lot of misconceptions about food stamps, also known as SNAP, and how the system works. There have been several editorial letters and “Rants and Raves” in the Augusta Chronicle recently concerning who is receiving food stamps and how they are using or abusing them. To understand the food stamp program and how effective it is, you need to understand where the money comes from, you need to “follow the money,” and understand how misuse affects the program. Whether you call it Food Stamps, Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP) or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, it is essentially all the same thing. The old “food stamps” have been replaced with EBT cards which are a state provided debit card. SNAP is the responsibility of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS). Each month, money is automatically loaded on the cards of qualifiied individuals and families based on income levels and the number of dependent children. Dave Iverson is the Executive Director of the Columbia County Cares Food Pantry. They are open five days a week. On an average, they see about 150 individuals or families a week. Ninety to Niney-five percent of these individuals or families …show more content…
This food is purchased at grocery stores, big box stores (SAMs, Costco) and convenience stores. When EBT cards are used to buy food, a percentage of that money is used by the stores to pay their employees who pay taxes on their paychecks and a percentage of the money is used to buy more products from wholesalers, distributors, canners and manufactures, dairies, and local bakeries. Of the money used to pay these companies, a percentage is used to pay their employees who pay taxes on their paychecks and a percentage of the money is used to purchase produce from farmers and