Food Stamp use rises in Oconee

The use of food stamps in Oconee County increased during the recession. A college professor in Mississippi says the increased use contributed to local spending and, at the same time, helped sparked a national debate about the future of the federal nutrition program. In 2011, three years ago, the proportion of Oconeeans receiving food stamps hit 15.2%, according to the Department of Agriculture. That’s an increase of 4.3 percentage points since 2007—the year the recession officially started. Oconee’s food-stamp usage rate is lower than the state average. Across South Carolina, 18.5% of residents in 2011 received support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as the food stamp program is officially known. Nationally, 14.8% of the populations receives SNAP benefits. According to Dr. Roberto Gallardo, an associate professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, grocers say they feel the impact of SNAP and other USDA nutrition programs such as Women, Infants and Children (WIC). In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Wal-Mart reported that a decrease in SNAP benefits last year could affect the retail giant’s bottom line. Congress, however, has agreed to trim about $8 billion from SNAP over the next ten years. Backers of the cuts say the program had expanded too much in recent years and was creating too much reliance on government assistance.