Many Freeborn County residents may be going without food because they are too proud or don’t know they are eligible to receive food stamps.

Friday, March 23, 2001

Many Freeborn County residents may be going without food because they are too proud or don’t know they are eligible to receive food stamps.

Food stamp outreach coordinator Patti Kimble won’t rest until she’s talked to every one of them.

About 70 percent of eligible people in Freeborn County receive food stamps. Participation in the program has gone down, even though the estimated number of eligible people has not, she said.

Officials believe that people don’t participate because they don’t think they would qualify, they are too proud, or are deterred by lengthy paperwork, Kimble said.

Senior citizens are especially likely to feel that the food stamp program is shameful, she said.

&uot;Sometimes they think it’s a giveaway program, but it’s not,&uot; Kimble said. &uot;It’s something they’ve earned through their taxes, like Social Security.&uot;

Eligible people don’t have to compete for food stamp funds, so seniors shouldn’t worry about receiving benefits at another person’s expense, Kimble said.

&uot;It’s something they are entitled to that will go unused if they don’t take it,&uot; she said.

Freeborn County was recently awarded a federal grant to increase awareness about the food stamp program, and try to encourage enrollment.

Kimble will target seniors, schools and agencies that help public assistance recipients with programs explaining the food stamp program and requirements. She will be available to help people fill out applications.

&uot;I want to give everybody the opportunity to apply,&uot; she said.

&uot;I don’t want people to go hungry even for a day,&uot; Kimble said. &uot;I want everybody to have the amount of food they are entitled to every day and every meal.&uot;

Eligibility is based on income, number of individuals living in a household and assets. Car or home ownership does not necessarily make people ineligible, Kimble said.

People who are homeless, used to receive Adult Families with Dependent Children benefits or underemployed may also be eligible, she said.

For more information on the program, eligibility, or for assistance in applying for food stamps, contact Patti Kimble at 377-5511, or the Freeborn County Department of Human Services at 277-5400.