S.J. food stamp recipients learn to budget and plan

An anonymous fresh produce donation left at Colonial Manor Methodist Church is a blessing for the volunteer food pantry operating out of the church basement.

The fresh fruit and vegetables — pounds of onions, tomatoes and grapes — are a luxury for the community's most needy and the food pantries serving them.

Their source is a mystery pantry founder Alice McKewen doesn't mind leaving unsolved.

It's never been easy for federal food stamp recipients to stretch their allowance. By the end of the month, food pantries are buzzing with clients attempting to fill kitchens with starchy staples until the next month's benefits kick in.

"It kind of depresses you," McKewen admitted.

She started the West Deptford church's food pantry more than 25 years ago. In the last five years, she's seen a boom in clients stocking up on free canned goods, spaghetti, rice and cereal at month's end.

McKewen and her volunteer staff seek to provide fresh produce to the 20 families they serve every weekend. So anonymous donations are a treat.

This week, her clients' paper shopping bags were topped with sliced grapefruit.

"So many of them will say to you, 'I never thought I would be in this position,' " McKewen said.

In Gloucester County, 11,500 households receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, a 4.7 percent increase since January 2013, according to Ed Smith, the county's Division of Social Services superintendent.

More than 31,700 Camden County households benefit from SNAP. On average, a family of four in Camden County receives $632 a month, according to its Division of Social Services. That's just under $160 for groceries every week.

"People don't necessarily know how to shop smart, or how to get through until the end of the month on their SNAP dollars, " said Louann Hughes, an educator at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

"Budgeting and food planning help you stretch your dollars."

Hughes' programs target low-income families who may use food stamps. Her first lesson teaches SNAP students how to fill their pantries. Pick up pasta, canned vegetables, beans and soups from food pantries, and save food stamps for produce and meats, she advised.

Plan the week's meals before heading to the grocery store. It helps Hughes buy only what she needs and create healthy meals for her family. Her classes show adults how to clip and use coupons and check unit pricing of items to get the best buy.

But getting reacquainted with the kitchen is the most useful way to SNAP success, Hughes added.

"You don't have to get fancy."

Potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots keep well and are fairly versatile on the plate. Hughes thinly slices, then bakes potatoes for homemade chips without the grease.

She rinses preservatives from canned vegetables to remove salt, then adds the veggies to canned soups for a heartier meal.

A food bank staple — macaroni and cheese in the box — is a kid favorite. It's also full of fat and sodium. Cut the portion and serve it with a side of veggies, Hughes suggested.

"Nutrition is important," noted Jann Jenkins, a SNAP educator in Gloucester County for Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Jenkins runs SNAP-Ed, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program targeting limited-income adults, children and families on food stamps.

The educational program's goal is to fight hunger while battling obesity among SNAP users.

Jenkins connects with the community through county social services or through Gloucester County school districts, where more than 50 percent of families are food stamp eligible.

Her food label lessons are always a hit, she said, noting a can of Coke has 11 teaspoons of sugar.

In the tri-county area, more than 50,000 children live in SNAP households. Jenkins reminds parents to monitor sugar in juices.

"They don't want to put that in their body or their children's bodies," she said.

The SNAP-Ed program is visible in Smith's Washington Township social services office. He turns down the volume on the lobby TVs and turns on SNAP-Ed videos for waiting clients.

"They're not always spending their dollars wisely," he acknowledged.

"It's getting that education to the consumer that's really important."

Reach Carly Q. Romalino at (856) 486-2476 and cromalino@cpsj.com