Why The Food Stamp Challenge Came to GW Emily Baer, Student

Emily Baer
Student & Neighbors Project Student Coordinator for Special Events

Back in September, I proposed that we challenge GW to a food stamp challenge during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. And to be honest, I did not think it would actually happen. It was not a reflection of GW - I just did not think there would be that many people who would actually volunteer to have their freedom restricted so much. The best part about going to college is the feeling (perhaps a facade?) of absolute freedom and food stamps don't exactly mesh well with this. But the challenge is a great way for the GW Community to learn about hunger by actually experience it first hand. Over the next week, you can expect to read about the experiences students, staff, faculty, and administrators as they embark upon the challenge. I'll be one of them.

Surprisingly, I am not expecting the challenge to be that hard. While I've never lived on food stamps, I grew up in a single parent household with three sisters so I'm used to stretching our food budget pretty thin. I've been clipping coupons, planning weekly menus and cooking since I was nine, so that part won't be hard. Instead, I am dreading giving up my coffee habit -- it's my one vice. When I get stressed out or I'm feeling tired, I cheer myself up by buying coffee out. I don't drink folgers or maxwell house and I spend at least $10/lb on coffee (I drink a lot of coffee) to brew at home, not including buying coffee out. Obviously, on a food stamp budget, it will be the first thing to go!

To prepare, I've started looking at what is on sale and planning what I'll be eating for the week. Honestly, I am just glad I do not have any exams or tests next week because I could not handle them without good coffee.

Let me break down my week as I currently see it - Because I am living at home this semester, I am cooking for my mom and sister. This means that my Food Stamp Budget for the week is $86.25 (28.75 X 3). They are no looking forward to it but I think that they want to prove to themselves that they can do it. I do too --- but I also recognize that the average person on food stamps can not devote as much time as I will to planning their weekly food budget and meals. And I do not have a full time job and children to care for. So even though it is a challenge, I can not pretend that it completely replicates the real life experiences of a person on food stamps - It is just my small window into their lives. I hope you will join me!