U.S. Rep. Ryan takes Food Stamp Challenge

YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, will participate in the seven-day Food Stamp Challenge, an effort aimed at raising awareness of the hunger problem faced by 38 million Americans.
The Food Stamp Program provides more than 25 million people living at or below the poverty line with a means to afford basic food items.
"I'm taking this challenge because of the 1 million Ohioans who live day-to-day, unsure whether they'll have the money to buy groceries and still be able to pay the electric bill," Ryan said.
Food Stamp Program participation is increasing, he said. In 2000, 609,717 Ohioans received aid each month. By 2005, that number was 1,007,172, a 65.2-percent increase. Yet in the past decade, the value of food stamps has been stagnant and today has roughly the same amount of purchasing power as it did in 1996, he said.
The average eligible Ohio family receives 617 per month, breaking down to 1.06 per person for every meal. The Food Stamp Challenge duplicates these figures, allotting each participant 3 worth of food every day for one week.
Ryan is joining three other members of Congress in the challenge.