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Genesee County has 16 percent increase in food stamp recipients since 2007

By Howard B. Owens

According to this interactive map from the New York Times, 8 percent of Genesee County residents receive food stamps. That's up 16 percent from 2007.

Compared to other GLOW counties:

  • Orleans, 12 percent, up 25 percent
  • Livingston, 9 percent, up 41 percent
  • Wyoming, 7 percent, up 28 percent.

Of the four counties, Orleans has the largest percentage of children receiving food stamps at 23 percent, which is close to the national average of 1-in-four children on assistance.

Doug Yeomans

Excellent question. If they are illegal, why and how do they even qualify?

I think people need to learn how to grow a garden and hunt to feed themselves. Yeah, I know that's not feasible for EVERYONE but I'm no spring rooster and have known many people receiving assistance who could have provided for themselves with a little bit of effort.

Dec 10, 2009, 9:04am Permalink
Jim Burns

"how many are Illegal Aliens ? "

None the weather is to crappy for them to stay here ;)

When I moved here I was amazed at how little ethnic diversity there is.

Dec 10, 2009, 10:20am Permalink
Kelly Hansen

I thought the first comment was a joke, but I guess not. Illegal aliens are not eligible for Food Stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Unemployment Compensation, employment training under the Job Training Partnership Act, and financial assistance for higher education. They may only receive food stamps on behalf and to feed their <i>citizen</i> children.

The increase in people going to local food pantries and soup kitchens in the city are people like you, me, our elderly relatives and the neighbor next door.

Dec 10, 2009, 11:09am Permalink
Mark Janofsky

I read an article a few weeks ago on how apples were left on the trees to rot.

Hunger is up while food is left on the vine to rot. Ironic isn't it.

Dec 10, 2009, 12:23pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Kelly, so illegals come here, make babies and can then receive assistance for their "citizen" children. I sure hope they don't eat any of the food or benefit from anything you and I are providing for their "citizen" children.

Jim, you need to get out more if you don't see much ethnic diversity here. Whenever I go out I see European Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic (Puerto Rican and Mexican), Russian, Ukrainian, African American, Mixed races (which in reality all of us are) and then there are WalMart Americans. http://www.peopleofwalmart.com

Dec 10, 2009, 12:39pm Permalink
Kelly Hansen

Doug, reading the words you typed harkens back to old newspaper articles from the early 19th century. I got it - you're a 'native' American, just like the 'know-nothing party members' and the hungry be damned. Instead of Irish and Italian immigrants, it is the very few mexican workers who come up here to pick apples and plant cabbage that no citizen farmer is willing to plant and weed by hand. And they are not all illegal. I stand behind many people in the grocery line who are using a benefit card to pay for groceries, and the vast majority of them look like they could be a friend, neighbor or relative of my own.

I don't think the marked increase in food stamp applications is due to illegal aliens getting them. Is it possible that the economy is affecting regular people, American citizens, and they happen to be hungry? There is plenty of fraud going around, and I don't think that $20 a week for groceries is a priority.

Dec 10, 2009, 1:47pm Permalink
Jim Burns

I need to get out more HAHAHAHA

I spend 100 days a year traveling this country. As far as the entire country goes this is not an ethnically diverse town. I was comparing it to other towns villages and cites. I do get out; perhaps you should leave your comfort zone and experience something besides wall mart and enjoy the cultural differences of others.

Dec 11, 2009, 8:03am Permalink
Dave Olsen

1 in 4 children nationally are fed by food stamps? I did not realize it was that many. What the hell? I guess I can see it with wages going down, unemployment up, taxes going up and so many single parent families. If that's not a crisis, I don't know what is.

Dec 12, 2009, 11:54am Permalink

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