September 28, 2007
Contact: Curt Stewart 801.526.4315
Salt Lake City – The Utah Department of Workforce Services
(DWS), in partnership with Utahns Against Hunger, has been awarded a Food Stamp
Participation Grant in the amount of $585,601. The grant will be used to purchase
computers that will be used in food pantries and senior centers to help Utah
residents apply for food stamps online.
Chuck Conner, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
announced that Utah was one of seven states receiving a portion of almost $5
million in grants to modernize and simplify the Food Stamp Program application
process for America’s low-income households.
“This grant allows us to make Food Stamps more accessible for the people
who have difficulty finding their way to the traditional brick and mortar office,
especially the disabled and elderly.” Said DWS Executive Director Kristen
Cox.
“Utah has historically low participation in the Food Stamp Program, some
people are just reluctant to walk into an office and ask for help,” said
Gina Cornia, Executive Director of Utahns Against Hunger. “This project
is an opportunity to increase participation in the Food Stamp Program and we’re
hopeful we’ll reach people who otherwise would never think to apply.”
Administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, the Food Stamp Program is the
cornerstone of USDA’s 15 nutritional assistance programs that forms the
nation’s nutritional safety net.
For more information contact Curt Stewart at 801-526-4315, or Gina Cornia at
801-328-2561.
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