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I want to introduce you to very young women
two freshman here at Meredith College:
Shanna Scott and Victoria Greenleaf.
Have only been members of our family here for 5 months.
Shanna was born in Massachusetts, then moved to North Carolina,
then to Wisconsin, and back to North Carolina.
Victoria was born in Pennsylvania and moved to North Carolina
and so both of them graduated high school here
and moved in here this last fall.
Shanna is major in interior and fashion design,
Victoria hopes to be teacher some day.
Join me as we welcome Shanna and Victoria.
(Applause)
Good morning.
My name is Shanna Scott and, I am Victoria Greenleaf.
And we just want to start talking about food stamps.
Food is something everyone needs.
What makes a difference is how much money you have.
What's really considered rich?
That's something SNAP decides.
SNAP stands for supplemental nutrition resistance program,
also commonly known as fruit stamps.
We have a map that shows
IMA of homes that have increased in 2008 and 2009 for food stamps,
just in today's society think about
how many people need it and aren't able to apply for it today.
In North Carolina to be able to get SNAP, you have to be a resident,
and have a current bank account under $2,001.
or a resident with a current bank account under $3,001 who shares a home
with someone 60 years over or with someone who has a disability such as
a child, a spouse, a parent or even yourself.
In either category
you must have a house and an income for one person of $40,079.
For two people you have to have $18,941,
for four people you have to have $28,665.
For six people $38,389.
For nine or more people
you have to have at least $4,862, for each additional person.
And you have to remember that samice and
checking are combined in this categories.
According to fruit stamps my family is considered rich or at least
too rich for fruit stamps with an income of $1,100: my father's social security.
My first problem is: this isn't considered income, the gross pay is.
Our gross monthly income is $1,225.
But you got to minus the medical insurance which is $125.
That only leaves us to $1,100 net a month.
You still need you to minus the electricity which is $150,
car insurance which is $100, yourself on bail which is $170,
your credit card which is $300 and TV that's $80.
and that only leaves us $300 left to spent.
But this still does not include
gas, food, paying rent, personal, school or house supplies.
But still not all families can pay rent.
Some families can get by with these $300 but some can't.
My family was one of those families.
For us to stay in a home
we made an agreement with the person who owns our house.
She was a good friend of ours and
she let us stay in the house while we decided to take care of her
because of her old age.
In most cases, of course, people have to pay rent.
For a house rent it can vary for a large cost.
For an acquaintance of ours, it ranges up to $850.
Keep in mind if you only have $300.
For an apartment is still even higher,
it can range from $350 to $600, which can vary with utilities as well.
In another time my mom was working part time
as a waitress, while my brother had gotten a part time job
to help pay for his car.
Because of this, when my mother applied for food stamps
we were denied because of his small income.
..... Sorry...(Laugh)
As a society we should think about
people that have food stamps and
just don't think of them as just the person that isn't working for
what they have.
Some people are putting an effort, to try to make an income.
There was another time, I remember
when my mother worked in a seasonal job
and applied for food stamps.
Even though her seasonal job was only for 2 months
it was still considered income.
Now we did get approved
but this was only for $14 that would only cover milk, bread, eggs and cheese.
And about time we started receiving those food stamps
my mom's seasonal job had already ended.
So it was almost completely pointless.
Hmm...We just want to let you guys know that
we should be aware of people that have these problems,
and keep an eye out for just trying to give them a helping hand.
Just know that like it's not easy,
we're trying and there is not much you can do,
when you can't really get the help that you need.
Thank you!
(Applause)