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Food Stamp Cuts For 71,000 in Montgomery County, MD

By
Industry Observer with Retired

Food Stamp Cuts For 71,000 in Montgomery County, MD

 

The national food stamp budget is being decreased by $5 billion this month. The program is called SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Across the country, 47 million people are enrolled in the $80 billion program.

For those that support efforts to end hunger in their local communities, it is good to take a look at the situation at home. In Montgomery County, Maryland, about 71,000 of the one million residents are using food stamps. In the District of Columbia, 144,000 residents, about 25% of the population, use food stamps. In Virginia, about 10% of the residents use food stamps.

Robert Samuels, in The Washington Post reports that a family of three with no income would see monthly benefits reduced by about $29, to $497 from $526. Area food banks will be feeling the additional pressure. Now is a good time to increase our contributions and our volunteer efforts to assist food banks and other food providers.

Please think about the difference that your personal envolvement and your company efforts can make in reducing hunger in your community. Take action now.

 

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park IMG_1981

Photograph by Roy Kelley

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Posted by

Roy Kelley, Retired, Former Associate Broker, RE/MAX Realty Group

Gaithersburg, Maryland  

Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Roy: That photo tells it all, doesn't it? Federal funds are drying up or being redirected. And, you are absolutely right, we should all get involved in helping our neighbors. What is sad is that others who probably cannot afford it either, are helping out. Need I say more!

Nov 01, 2013 12:36 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Roy,

It's time Americans realize there's a lot of hunger here in our own backyards too. The Federal Government can not be counted on to feed the hungry. It's a sad day in America, especially when politicians can travel on private jets and eat like kings and queens and there are children, pregnant women, skinny boys who are struggling to find work and if they do, they if they labor, they labor on hungry stomachs.

Nov 01, 2013 12:55 AM
Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Roy, we wouldn't have the problems if our government would stop spending more than we have, we would be in good shape. Last year our President took money out of the social security fund.

Nov 01, 2013 01:17 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This blog is not a political statement. It is easy to cast blame for the problems but we need to focus on the human needs in our own communities.

Have a great day and an outstanding weekend!

 

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park IMG_1979

Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Nov 01, 2013 01:24 AM
Beth and Richard Witt
New York, NY
The best Retired Brokers !!!!

Roy... I understand where you are coming from... but I think we should all get involved in helping people get jobs that would enable them to buy their own food... Remember give a kid a fish and he eats for a day teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime...

I love your photo!!!

Nov 01, 2013 02:53 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Roy, Those that really need it will really miss it. We need to see how we can assist in times like this.

Nov 01, 2013 11:02 AM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

I understand when this kind of aid is needed, but there is so much waste and fraud with this program. I will continue working and assisting those in need locally.

Make it a great weekend!

Nov 01, 2013 08:06 PM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Roy.  Ditto to Joe's comments.  The fraud and waste is astronomical.

Nov 01, 2013 08:23 PM
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

80 Billion is a huge amonut and I had no idea that much money was devatoed to food stamps. Yes, there is fraud, but there is also lots of hunger and legitimate need. I know at some schools in Fairfax county, on Fridays thay have " back-back Friday", where the teachers and cafetria workers send the kids home with whatever excess food they can, otherwise many kid sand their families wouldn't eat over the weekend. If you are a hunter in VA, deer deason ( muzzleloader) starts today. There is a " Hunters for The Hungry" program where you can donate deer to help feed hungry.

Nov 01, 2013 09:02 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It is always good to receive your feedback. Your comments are always welcome.

 

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park IMG_1976

Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Nov 01, 2013 09:57 PM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

Good morning Roy,

I hope people in the communities will step up and take care of their own citizens.   My heart goes out especially to the elderly and very young since they don't have much control over their current circumstances. 

I have mixed thoughts about massive government programs. 

Great pictures as ususal. 

Nov 01, 2013 10:32 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

The increase in food stamps was part of the stimulus and meant to be temporary. the rocket scientist politicians had 4 years to to get ready for the end or make changes but did not do anything. There are a lot of good local programs that are helping people which are in need. The one thing traveling so much every day brings me to many gas stations and convenience stores where i see people and kids using snap cards to buy non essential food items such as soda, chips, candy and countless pizza slices. I wish they could find a balance to help those truly in need while cutting the waste and misuse such as this. 

Nov 02, 2013 10:41 PM