Hunger pains

By Dave Flessner

Staff Writer

MONTEAGLE, Tenn. -- With only a part-time job at her church to support her three children, Tammie Scott is among a growing number of Tennesseans who rely on food stamps and subsidized school meals to feed their families.

"I know the Lord will always provide for me," the Monteagle mother said.

For now, Ms. Scott said, that help is coming from the federal government, which is helping out with $453 a month in food stamps and free breakfasts and lunches at school for her kindergartner and 5-year-old twins.

"It's a tremendous help for us and a lot of other people," she said.

Ms. Scott is one of 857,432 Tennesseans who received food stamp assistance last month. In Grundy County, where Ms. Scott lives in a public housing development, nearly 27 percent of the population receives food stamps, a rate triple the national average. More than three-fourths of all students in Grundy schools also qualify for free or reduced breakfasts and lunches.

Since 2001, the number of food stamp recipients in Grundy County has grown by more than 40 percent. But that growth is the lowest among counties in Southeast Tennessee.

Statewide, food stamp participation in Tennessee has jumped by 71 percent since 2001 and is expected to total nearly $1 billion worth of benefits across the state this year.

Despite the improving economy, Tennessee's participation rate in the food stamp program is more than 60 percent above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Even then, many of those involved in private relief programs say more is needed to help distribute food to needy families.

Growth and challenges

The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which collects and distributes food in a 20-county region in and around Chattanooga, has seen a steady increase in its volume and is on pace to distribute more than 9 million pounds of food this year for the first time.

The growth in food relief reflects greater efforts by government and private agencies to distribute assistance and the growing needs among many low-income Tennesseans hurt by job layoffs, family breakups or health problems, officials said.

"Tennessee has a bigger share of eligible persons receiving food stamps than do many other states," said Richard Dobbs, director of food stamp policy for the Tennessee Department of Human Services. "We continue to try to do as much as possible to reach out to those who qualify for assistance to let them know about how they can participate in the food stamp program."

About one of every seven people in Tennessee and more than one of every 10 in Georgia regularly relies upon government food stamps. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank also distributes donated food to more than 14,000 people every week through its participating agencies.

Although employment and income continue to grow in the region, economists say that many lower-income people are being left behind as jobs are automated or move offshore.

"The economy is great for educated and skilled persons, but many low-income Tennesseans are finding it harder to thrive or even survive in today's economy," said Matt Murray, associate director for the Center for Business and Economic Research. "Our state's higher food stamp participation reflects the fact that we are still a relatively poorer and less-educated state."

Nicole Spradlin, a 25-year-old single mother in Grundy County, got on food stamps last year after she was honorably discharged from the Army after two tours of duty in Iraq.

"It's hard to find a job around here that pays much more than $5 an hour," she said last week while renewing her food stamp eligibility.

Phil Elliott, coordinator of children's programs for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, said many workers are losing jobs to less expensive imports, and the high numbers of teen pregnancies, divorces and drug abuse in many communities often leave children without enough food.

"Too often, the children are the victims," he said.

Filling the need

To help ensure that children get enough food on weekends when free breakfasts and lunches are not provided at school, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank launched its "Sack Pack" program four years ago to give sacks of kid-friendly food items to a few hundred inner-city Chattanooga students every Friday.

Since then, the program has grown to 22 schools in 11 counties. Mr. Elliott said his five-year dream is to more than triple the program and include schools in all of the 20 counties served by the food bank.

"The need is phenomenal," he said.

Barbara Kelly, a school guidance counselor at Rossville Elementary School, said the Georgia school distributes about 150 sack packs to needy children every Friday, "and we could use even more sacks if we could get them."

"The kids run down the hall to get the sacks," she said. "It's sometimes hard to control their enthusiasm. It makes a big difference because we know that if kids don't eat properly and they are hungry, they don't learn as well."

Clare Sawyer, president of the local food bank, said tons of food are donated every year from food processors, cereal makers, grocers and restaurants. Much of the food is surplus, improperly packaged or reaching its expiration date, she said.

"There is so much food out there," she said. "Our challenge is to find creative ways to channel that."

The food bank distributes its food at discounted prices to nearly 200 area churches and non-profit agencies.

"I don't know if we are just getting better at what we do or the new programs we have added are reaching out to more people," Ms. Sawyer said.

Friendship Haven food services manager Calvin Walker said the food bank has helped keep the East Chattanooga home for the aged going amid cutbacks in its assistance from United Way. Like other participating agencies, Friendship Haven is able to buy food at 18 cents a pound.

"That's a fraction of what it would cost anywhere else, and it's good food that we can select to meet our needs," Mr. Walker said.

Providence Ministries in Dalton, Ga., also buys food from the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to help support its homeless and drug rehabilitation programs.

"We continue to see a big increase in drug-related problems, and the food bank really helps us to provide our services at a much lower cost," said the Rev. Roy Johnson, president and founder.

Nutritional training

Those involved in food relief efforts said they are trying to encourage healthier diets and eating habits among recipients. The University of Tennessee's Agricultural Extension Service provides courses in food buying and preparation for those on food stamps, and the food bank has offered similar courses for those that use its services.

But the food stamp program still allows recipients to select which food items to buy.

"People are free to buy soft drinks, candy or even steaks with food stamps, but our research shows that most of those on food stamps buy less of those items," Mr. Dobbins said.

At the Chattanooga Area Food Bank's new complex off Amnicola Highway, the warehouse is frequently stocked with donated sugar or snack products from Quaker Oats, McKee Foods, Farley's & Sathers, Pepsi and Coca-Cola. But Gary Paul, development director, said food drives, grocery donations, corporate contributions and bulk purchases by the food bank ensure that there are plenty of nutritious alternatives for individuals and agencies.

"It's extraordinarily rewarding to see all of the supporters we have willing to do so much to help other people in need," he said.

E-mail Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com