The New Hungry
May 19th, 2008 at 8:52 am by Susie
These are people who were only used to being hungry when they were on a diet, and in the past ten years, their numbers have grown exponentially:
Philomena Gist understands why it hurts so much to be on food stamps. After all, she’s got a master’s degree in psychology.
“There’s pride in being able to take care of yourself,” says the Columbus, Ohio, resident, laid off last year from a mortgage company and living on workers’ compensation benefits while recovering from surgery. “I’m not supposed to be in this condition.”
Neither are many of the 27.5 million Americans relying on government aid to keep food on their tables amid unemployment and rising prices. Average enrollment in the food stamps program has surpassed the record set in 1994, though the percentage of Americans on food stamps is still lower than records set in 1993-95. The numbers continue to climb.
Gist, 51, is the new face of hunger in the USA. She says she spent most of her adult life working as a mental health counselor before deciding to try real estate. “I’m a professional person,” she says.
As economists nationally debate whether the country is in recession and policymakers discuss ways to drive down gas prices, a new category of Americans combats hunger.
