Some have advanced degrees and remember middle-class lives. Some work selling lingerie or building websites. They are white, black and Hispanic, young and old, homeowners and homeless. What they have in common: They're all on food stamps.
As the food stamp program has become an issue in the Republican presidential primary, with candidates seeking to tie President Barack Obama to the program's record numbers, The Associated Press interviewed recipients across the country and found many who wished that critics would spend some time in their shoes.
Most said they never expected to need food stamps, but the Great Recession, which wiped out millions of jobs, left them no choice. Some struggled with the idea of taking a handout; others saw it as their due, earned through years of working steady jobs. They yearn to get back to receiving a paycheck that will make food stamps unnecessary.
"I could never have comprehended being on food stamps," said Christopher Jenks, who became homeless in his hometown of Minneapolis-St. Paul after a successful career in sales and marketing.
He refused to apply for several years, even panhandling on a freeway exit ramp before finally giving in. A few months ago, while living in his car, he began receiving $200 per month.
"It's either that or I die," said Jenks, who grew up in a white, middle-class family and lost his job in the recession. "I want a job. So do a lot of other Americans that have been caught up in this tragedy."
In 2011, more than 45 million people - about one in seven Americans - received benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the most ever. Fewer than 31 million people collected the benefits about three years earlier.
Forty-nine percent of recipients are white, 26 percent are black and 20 percent are Hispanic, according to Census data.
Food assistance emerged as a campaign issue after statements by GOP candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum about African-Americans, the poor and Obama, whom Gingrich labeled the "best food stamp president in American history."
Critics accused Gingrich of seeking votes by invoking racial stereotypes about black welfare recipients with comments like "the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps." Challenged at a GOP debate this week on whether the rhetoric was insulting, Gingrich insisted it was not and received a standing ovation from the South Carolina audience.
Linda Miles is grateful to have food stamps, although she's not happy about why she needs them. An Army veteran with a master's degree, Miles, who is black, was laid off as a substitute teacher in Philadelphia amid deep budget cuts. After facing an empty refrigerator for too long, she recently started receiving $200 per month in food aid.
"Food stamps are essential, especially with the economy in the shape it's in," she said. "I pay taxes. I don't steal anything from the government. I paid my dues to society; I'm a veteran. You took something from me by taking away my job. I wouldn't need food stamps if you hadn't taken my job."
Miles started an unpaid internship this week, and also was certified to work in early childhood care while she looks for a permanent job.
"I'm not one of these people who sit on their butt and just collect a check," Miles said. "I've got a resume three pages long."
Ronnie McHugh was watching the GOP debate from home in Spring City, Pa. When Gingrich received the standing ovation, McHugh got so angry that she turned off the TV.
"I'd give a million dollars if I could find a job. I'm 64 years old, and no one wants to hire me," said McHugh, who is white, divorced, has no savings and lives off $810 per month in Social Security.
"I would like them to sit in my shoes," she said of the debate audience. "I would tell them I had a husband who made $150,000 a year, I had a good salary. We were both laid off at the same time by the same company, and I've never been able to rally from that."
"If they had a chance to sit in my shoes, they would be happy to have a program to help people who did work all their life."
Some critics say the Obama administration's policies have pushed people into dependency on food stamps. Eligibility rules were broadened in 2002 and 2008 before Obama took office; his 2009 stimulus package relaxed some work requirements and temporarily increased payouts.
For others, the recession, which pushed the unemployment rate as high as 10 percent and increased poverty, is the primary culprit.
The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger has seen a doubling of enrollments in suburban counties, with a smaller increase in the city itself. "These are much higher-income areas," said Julie Zaebst, the coalition's policy center manager. "This is part of the evidence showing that the most important reason for the growth in the program was the recession."
It was an injury that pushed Russell Johnson of Morgantown, W.Va., over the edge. He held down a steady refrigeration job until he fell off a roof six years ago. On Wednesday, he and his wife, Carolyn, used their food stamp card to buy $64.71 worth of groceries. That was more than half of their $102 monthly benefit.
"It's not enough, but it helps," Carolyn said. "I think it's a great program for the people who need it."
The Johnsons, who are white, maintain a big garden, hunt, fish and buy in bulk, like the 50-pound sack of potatoes in their cart. Carolyn also is disabled; they receive $763 per month in total disability payments.
They are furious with Gingrich. "I'd rather work than be on food stamps, but, I mean, my body says no. So what am I gonna do?" Russell said. "If I sit for too long, my back starts hurting and my leg goes numb. If I stand too long, the same old thing. And if I walk too much, my legs give out like they ain't even there."
He said the people criticizing food assistance eat at fancy restaurants and pay $25 for a sack of potatoes.
"Me, I'm dang lucky to get to go to McDonald's," Russell said.
About half of those receiving food aid are children. In Fresno, Calif., Josephine Gonzales has received assistance since becoming pregnant with her first child last fall. She is trained as a medical assistant and previously worked at an elementary school, but hasn't found a new job since giving birth.
"I use food stamps because I'm a single mom and I don't work, so I need a way to survive," said Gonzales, who is Hispanic. "Instead of spending the little cash I have on food, I can spend it on diapers and other things for my baby. It's just a small help. It's not making our lives luxurious."
Twanda Graham of Montgomery, Ala., started receiving food stamps when she graduated from high school 22 years ago. She has worked all that time, currently in a clothing store. She is unmarried with four children, and said she does not earn enough to feed her family.
Graham, who is black, believes she is paying for her assistance with taxes withheld from her paycheck: "They are not giving me anything for free."
Victoria Busby of Oklahoma City is a white single mom with two children. She has received food assistance intermittently since her first child was born two years ago. A high school graduate, she works part-time building websites for a manufacturing company, and aspires to become a nurse.
She is not ashamed about receiving aid. "I don't feel bad about it because my children need to eat. It's helped quite a bit."
Sophia Clark is a film school graduate in New York City who works part time at Victoria's Secret while she freelances on movie productions. In December she began receiving $130 per month because she couldn't afford to buy food after paying for rent, college loans and her cell phone.
"It was never, ever my intention to rely on public assistance in any way," said Clark, who is black and unmarried with no children.
Clark was recently entertaining a guest in the Bronx apartment she shares with her uncle when the dinner conversation turned to food stamps. The guest emphatically stated that his tax dollars should not feed people who prefer welfare over work.
She asked the guest if he had enjoyed the pasta with homemade pesto sauce. He had. "Do you find me a lazy person?" Clark asked. Not at all, the guest replied.
"Well," Clark said, "you just ate a dinner that was purchased with food stamps."
Associated Press writers Jeff Amy in Jackson, Miss., Bob Johnson in Montgomery, Ala., Carrie Schedler in Indianapolis, Vicki Smith in Morgantown, W.Va., Tim Talley in Oklahoma City and Gosia Wozniacka in Fresno, Calif., contributed to this report.
Deein623 b Deein623 vbbbj posted at 4:55 pm on Fri, Jan 20, 2012.
in that last statement about serving food to guest!! Hate 2 B a party crasher but if i remember correctly. i had to sign a paper declaring " I deein623 would not eat the food of someone who recieves food aid. Clark SHAME ON YOU. It is apparent you can cook
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:02 pm on Fri, Jan 20, 2012.
Wait a dog-gone minute, did I read correctly. She has been receiving food stamps "intermittently" since child #1 was born the she had child #2...what's going on here, Folks.
As for the unmarried woman with 4 children who feels entitled to Food Stamps because, as she put it..."You took something away from me by taking my job. I wouldn't need food stamps if you hadn't taken my job". Just who took her job away from her, President Obama, Newt, Mitt, Joe Biden...who...AND WHERE ARE THE FATHER(S) OF HER 4 CHILDREN....WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM ???
Another unmarried woman says the she didn't work because she had a child so she was entitled to food stamps as a way to survive.
California and New York give food stamps away to illegal aliens...illegal aliens...can you believe that? What has our once great Nation become.....the ..'"ATM" of the 3rd World ? Illegal Aliens are eligible for Emergency Room care for labor and delivery under... MEDICAID ???
There have been 14 million more people on food stamps in just 3 years.
Certain ethnicities and races get a huge disproportional percentage of all food dollars............WHICH ARE IN THE 100'S AND 100's AND 100's OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS...........AND AMERICA IS $15 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT.
What has happened since the 1960's when ..PERSONAL RESPONSIIBILITY WENT OUT THE DOOR.....THERE USED TO BE SHAME IN HAVING TO USE FOOD STAMPS...NOW THERE IS "ENTITLEMENT".
THERE USED TO BE SHAME IN AN UNWED MOTHER HAVING CHILDREN WITH NO HUSBAND TO AID IN THE CARE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO RAISE A CHILD.......WHERE DID AMERICA'S VALUES GO....WHERE ???
shrinkingviolet posted at 9:20 pm on Fri, Jan 20, 2012.
Where some hear "Barack Obama has put more people on food stamp than any other president in history," as we have heard so often lately, others hear: "Barack Obama has saved more people from hunger than any other president in history."
viborafan posted at 6:24 am on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
Mr. Ceniceros, Please provide evidence backing your claims regarding the food stamp giveaway to the undocumented. Until then, GET OFF MY LAWN, PENDEJO!
Juggernaut8000 posted at 8:16 am on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
This woman is unable to keep her legs closed and now John Q taxpayer gets to support her litter?
This article also provides what ethnic backround accepts the most welfare yet fails to show what percent of the population each group represents. Per 100,000 blacks accept more welfare than any other group.
This toilet paper publication is the most racist swill I have ever read.
shrinkingviolet posted at 10:45 am on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
Then don't read it, fuggernaut. Why tax your faculties any further than you need to by considering other points of view?
jezzabella posted at 2:34 pm on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
Leon Ceniceros: The largest single group who qualify for food stamps are our young military families. I am sure a man who hates as much as you hate will vilify them, too.
onerebel posted at 2:52 pm on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
I don't think you will find many people that are unwilling to help those that need help getting back on their feet. The problem is that there is too many that would rather just sit on their backside, and vote in someone that will continue the handouts.
The reason this country continues its drift toward socialism and big nanny government is because too many people vote in the expectation of getting something for nothing, not because they have a concern for what is good for the country.
Lyn Nofziger
DrJCA1 posted at 2:53 pm on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
While there are perfectly legitimate reasons for food stamps and welfare, multi-generational recipients is not one of them. All government help should be for a short (1-3 years at most) time along with requirements to go to school or training which the government would pay for. I have no problem with helping people. I do have a problem with just sending out checks year after year and asking nothing in return from the receivers. I also noted that one of the people in the article had a husband who earned 150k plus her good salary, but she has "no savings". In that case, I send her nothing. The other thing that really ticks me off, is that almostevery time I go grocery shopping, I notice peopel with 2 carts. 99% of the time they are on food stamps and buy reeal food with government money and the beer and cigarettes with their cash from welfare. This is not hearsay, I see it every week without fail.
AZMomma posted at 4:31 pm on Sat, Jan 21, 2012.
Once again, the Tap dance to the tune of "Food Stamp Whine".
How about an unbiased report on how much trouble these recipients take to purchase and cook meals FROM SCRATCH? Cook in large batches and freeze for future meals? Take advantage of both local Food Banks and Commodity programs? Use coupons and buy the sales. Shop at the inexpensive stores, NOT the premium ones where items are much higher than a store down the street.
I may not walk in their shoes but I DO know something about stretching my food dollars and I personally offer to help them shop and cook to their best advantage. Any takers? I thought not [sad]
k33j88 posted at 5:20 am on Sun, Jan 22, 2012.
A nice, respectful, responsible, young woman came to me to express her disgust with her "welfare momma" neighbor. This "tax taker", according to the responsible one, lives the life of riley! Nice home, nice car, taxpayer monies from federal, state, and local gov'ts, too many to mention here. Now I have to convince the "responsible one" not to fall into the trap of the "liberal entitlement mentality" for all the freebies without lifting a finger. And to think I was once the "torch bearer" for the "progressive establishment". Thank you Lord Jesus for "opening my eyes".