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I just received this article from The Advocate: A paper and portal serving Christian Reformed social activists…

Washington, DC, December 5, 2008 – Government statistics released today reveal that unemployment rates have reached the highest level in 15 years; while a record 31.6 million Americans are now receiving food stamp benefits, the highest number since the program was started in the 1960′s.

According to today’s figures by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate reached 6.7 percent in November, the highest level since October 1993. With 3.2 million more Americans unemployed than 12 months ago, the need for food assistance has risen. Last month saw the evaporation of 533,000 jobs, the biggest one-month loss since 1974.

Figures released earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that food stamp beneficiaries increased by 17 percent. The food stamp program is now known as SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “While 10.3 million Americans are unemployed, more than 31 million—one in every ten—Americans now receives food stamps,” said Dr. Jim McDonald, Vice President of Policy and Programs at Bread for the World. “In an economic recession, it is harder than ever for Americans to feed their families.”

Higher food prices are also causing families to turn to SNAP for food assistance. The cost of groceries rose by 7.5 percent over the past year. While an additional 2.1 million households now receive SNAP benefits than did 12 months ago, the value of those benefits will erode over the course of the year as food prices continue to rise.

“Congress should temporarily boost SNAP benefits as part of an economic stimulus package,” said Dr. McDonald. “Every additional dollar in SNAP benefits results in $1.73 in increased economic activity.”

The impact of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike accounts for significantly increased SNAP participation in Louisiana and Texas in September 2008. In addition to those, the states with the greatest growth in SNAP participation are Idaho, Florida, and Nevada. –Bread for the World, www.bread.org