A Pittsburg agency that helps area residents purchase foods for their families recently received a funding boost from the federal government.
The Catholic Charities Southeast Kansas Emergency Services has received a grant funded by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service department to help the program promote its role in the Kansas Food Assistance Program, provides Food Stamp benefits for low-income households who qualify. Alberta DeBoutez, the local Charities’ coordinator, said the $9,515 matching grant was used to hire a part-time employee whose role is to help clients apply for food assistance. Phyllis Dittmar, of Pittsburg, was hired to fill that role.
“She’ll go out and do education and promotion of the Food Assistance Program,” DeBoutez said. “She’ll go out in the Crawford County community and help people apply for help.”
DeBoutez said the because the economic downturn has led to higher unemployment numbers, there is “definitely” a greater need for food assistance among area residents. She added, however, that many people who are eligible for food assistance are unaware of that fact.
“A lot of times people don’t even realize they qualify,” she said. “Since the state raises the (eligible income) amount on a yearly basis, there are some people who haven’t qualified in the past who now do. So what we need to do is educate people and get them signed up for the benefits they can access and that they need.”
According to the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, those who are eligible to receive Food Stamp benefits include:
• Persons who work, but have a low income and those who do not work are eligible.
• Persons who live together and buy food together are eligible. Household members do not have to be related to be considered part of the household.
• Persons age 60 and older and persons with disabilities are eligible. Persons with disabilities such as those receiving Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability payments, certain Veteran’s disability payments, disability retirement benefits for a permanent disability, and railroad disability.
BENEFITS
Food Stamp benefits net income requirements (per month)
$867 - 1 person
$1,167 - 2 persons
$1,467 - 3 persons
$1,767 - 4 persons
$2,067 - 5 persons
Add $300 for each additional person
Information from the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
PITTSBURG —
