Advocates Call for Increased Food Stamps Participation

Charlie Mata, founder of the Advocates Social Services of San Antonio, called for a statewide effort to register more hungry families for Food Stamps in an op-ed published in today's Express-News. He writes:

"The food stamp program stabilizes families, improves quality of life and ends human suffering. This program prevents hunger, homelessness, utility disconnects. It helps people purchase adequate food, including special diet food. Children become healthier. It provides jobs, pulls people out of poverty, provides a positive economic impact, and it gives hope."

Almost 290,000 Bexar County residents may be eligible but are not receiving Food Stamps, costing the county an estimated $27.3 million monthly in lost federal food aid.