Pocono News Section

Use of food stamps increases in our area.

Use of food stamps increases in our area. - Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 3:10PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo WYOU TV News
Tuesday, Apr 8, 2008 @03:10pm EST
BLAKELY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY

Grocery stores like Kutsop's Olde World Market in Blakely, Lackawanna County, report a sharp increase in the number of people using the State Food Stamp Program to pay their bill. Steve Manheim, a clerk at the market, said he has seen an increase in the number of both senior citizens and young people using the program. Manheim says the use of the stamps, which are now issued as a debit card, has tripled in the store over thepast two months or so.

Lisa Durkin of United Neighborhood Centers in Scranton says that there has also been an increase in requests for assistance from agency's emegency food bank program. Families and individuals often turn there for help when their monthly food stamp allocation has been exhusted. Ms. Durkin says the rising cost of fuel and food seems to be the reason requests for aid have nealry doubled lately.