(Town Talk, Alexandria, LA, February 8, 2004)

The Food Stamp Program pumps about $6.8 million in federal funds into the 13 parishes of central Louisiana every month, according to the state Department of Social Services (DSS). Just under $62 million in benefits are distributed each month statewide. In the 13 parishes of central Louisiana there were 77,094 people participating in the program. This article takes grocery store sales tax receipts for Rapides Parish in June 2003 and compares the number to the amount of money received by food stamp recipients during the same month. Sales at grocery stores, excluding convenience stores, meat markets and other businesses that accept food stamps, totaled $8.6 million in June 2003. During the same month, residents received $1.8 million in food stamps, meaning that as much as 20 to 25 percent of grocery sales could have been made with food stamps.

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