CNA<\/a>).- The head of Catholic Charities in D.C. recently experienced the struggle of low-income families relying on food stamps, noting that Christian charity lends vital support to those in need.<\/p>\n\t\u201cMost of us don\u2019t have a real sense of what it\u2019s like to be on food stamps,\u201d said Fr. John Enzler, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
\tFrom Oct. 9 \u2013 Oct. 15, Fr. Enzler participated in D.C. Hunger Solutions\u2019 Food Stamp Challenge, pledging to spend only $30 on food for one week, the average amount allotted to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.<\/p>\n
\tHe told CNA that the experience allowed him to stand in solidarity with those in need, while also increasing his awareness of the challenges that face families and individuals who are trying to survive on food stamps.<\/p>\n
\tThroughout the week, he experienced the struggle to be well-fed and healthy on such a small budget. In particular, he said, it was \u201creally difficult\u201d to eat nutritious food.<\/p>\n
\tFor Fr. Enzler, a typical dinner often consists of a small piece of chicken or fish with some vegetables. But he discovered that this is \u201calmost impossible\u201d on about four dollars per day.<\/p>\n
\tMaintaining a healthy diet is \u201cwhat made it really hard for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\tAnd while he could have cut costs by eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or more canned food, it struck him that the situation would be much less manageable over a longer period of time.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThis is just one week for me,\u201d he said, while food stamp recipients must deal with these choices all year long.<\/p>\n
\tThe other big challenge for Fr. Enzler came over the weekend, when he was invited out to eat with some friends.<\/p>\n
\tWhile he tried to limit his spending, it still pushed him over his allotted budget, and he ended up spending about $37 by the end of the week.<\/p>\n
\tMany people don\u2019t realize that food stamp recipients often can\u2019t go out to eat, he observed. In most states, food stamps cannot be used at restaurants, and even cheap restaurants are difficult to manage on such a tight budget.<\/p>\n
\tWhile eating out is a common way to relax after a long day or enjoy time with friends, a single outing could easily cost nearly half of your weekly food budget, he noted.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cYou can\u2019t go to restaurants,\u201d he said.\u201d You can\u2019t have a beer. You can\u2019t go out with your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tFr. Enzler said that the food stamp challenge helped him to \u201cget a sense of what it\u2019s like\u201d for those who struggle to stay well-nourished in the U.S.<\/p>\n
\tHe created a video blog of his experience, which he shared with his staff to help them understand some of the challenges facing the people they are working with on a regular basis.<\/p>\n
\tThere is a need for greater awareness of these struggles, Fr. Enzler said, explaining that while some people may be tempted to complain that federal aid recipients are getting free food, the experience of relying upon such a limited budget is very difficult.<\/p>\n
\tAnd while some of the individuals receiving food stamps can supplement that aid with other money, many cannot, he said. Although people know that food stamps exist as a safety net for those who need it, many do not realize how tough it is to live on them.<\/p>\n
\tNonprofit organizations like Catholic Charities help to \u201cfill that gap\u201d between what the government provides and other existing needs or temporary challenges, Fr. Enzler explained.<\/p>\n
\tThrough its many initiatives in the Washington, D.C. area, Catholic Charities helps feed tens of thousands of people each year.<\/p>\n
\tA recent two-year government contract allows Catholic Charities' Food Service Program to serve healthy meals to up to 800 elderly Washington, D.C. residents every day. The SHARE food network offers fresh, nutritious food packages at a discounted price, while the Montgomery County Family Center offers nutrition and cooking classes.<\/p>\n
\tIt is good to realize that there are those in need in our own backyard, said Fr. Enzler, observing that hunger is often thought of as a problem facing those in Africa or some other far off country.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cPeople don't understand that people in our nation are hungry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\tThere are many ways that the faithful can help to ease the hunger of those around them, Fr. Enzler noted. Christians have the opportunity to speak up in their parishes and communities, volunteer in soup kitchens or organize local food drives.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cJesus said clearly, \u2018Feed the hungry,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cThis is our chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
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Washington D.C., Nov 22, 2012 \/ 04:06 pm (CNA).- The head of Catholic Charities in D.C. recently experienced the struggle of low-income families relying on food stamps, noting that Christian charity lends vital support to those in need.<\/p>\n
\t“Most …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\n
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