If you had just $31.50 per person to spend on food for an entire week, would you be able get adequate nutrition to meet your physical needs? Would you be able to make it all the way through without going hungry or going over budget?
If you had to depend on the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, this is the challenge you would have to face every week.
From January 20-27, the Jewish Community Relations Council challenges you to take the Food Stamp Challenge to raise awareness of this issue. Some of the people who have accepted this challenge are JCRC Chair Ayala Golding, JCRC Director Matt Goldberg, Jewish Community of Louisville Senior Vice President and COO Sara Wagner and Dr. Jonathan and Janet Hodes.
To participate, you must agree to:
- Live on only the food you can purchase for $31.50 for the entire week;
- Not eat food you already have in your home, except for condiments; and
- Not seek free food from elsewhere.
To conclude the challenge, participants and community members are invited to a potluck dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 27, at Jewish Family & Career Services. JFCS will provide vegetarian lasagna and asks people to bring a vegetarian or dairy side dish or dessert. The “cost of admission” is two cans of food for the food pantry or a contribution. Robin Rosenbaum, the director of The Jewish Council for Public Affairs’ Poverty Action Campaign, will speak at the dinner.
For more information on the Louisville Food Stamp Challenge and the closing potluck dinner at JFCS on January 27, please contact Matt Goldberg at 238-2707 or mgoldberg@jewishlouisville.org. RSVP for the potluck can be made by contacting Anita at ajarboe@jfcslouisville.org or 452-6341.