Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Hidden Benefits



This past September I read a fascinating Op Ed in the New York Times titled Our Hidden Government Benefits., by Suzanne Mettler.  This piece shared the results of a 2008 poll of 1,400 Americans by the Cornell Survey Research Institute which found that when people were asked whether they “ever used a government social program,” 57% said they had not.  Those surveyed were then asked if they had benefited from 21 different federal programs including: Social Security, unemployment insurance, the home-mortgage-interest deduction, and student loans.  The result was 94% of those who had denied using programs had benefited from at least one, and on average respondents had used four federal programs throughout their lives.

At Hunger Free Vermont we think it is important that everyone understands the importance of the federal nutrition programs within our communities.  Each year over 14 million subsidized meals are served to children in schools, childcare centers, and summer programs thanks to meal reimbursements from the federal government.  At the same time, over $100 million per year is spent in the local economy through food purchases in the 3SquaresVT program.  Nutrition programs along with programs like unemployment insurance and Social Security helped keep families from falling in to poverty during the Great Recession of the last three years.

Our work is to ensure that these programs are used to their greatest capacity and potential within our communities.  We want to ensure that 3SquaresVT recipients are able to use their benefits at local farmers’ markets and grocery stores.  We work to ensure that children are eating the highest quality meals while in the care of their schools or out-of-school programs.  We also believe strongly that government programs are important to respond to peoples needs in tough economic times.  Our government has helped almost all of us at one point or another, and to end hunger we need the help of the community to support the continuation of these programs.  Please continue to visit our website for opportunities to share your voice at the highest levels about the importance of government programs.

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