Upstate Food Bank Getting More Requests For Help From Food Stamp Backlog

A back-up at theSC Department of Social Services has kept those in need from receiving their monthly food stamps. Now they're calling 7 On Your Side for help and visiting local food banks as they wait desperately for their benefits to be deposited into their accounts.

By: Dianne Derby | News Channel 7
Published: July 13, 2009

Little Deshay Haley is chowing down at Harvest Hope Food Bank in Greenville. She and her family haven't eaten much in the past few days.

"My grandbaby is almost of of milk she had a sippee full this morning and there's no food she's out of diapers," said Deshay's grandmother Michele Greenway. "We would have to leave the diapers on that we had 'til they were sopping wet and I know that's not good but we had no choice."

Greenway and her daughter, Tyffeni, were referred to Harvest Hope by the The Salvation Army. They claim the only money they get is the $657 their family member receives from social security benefits each month. Both have applied for food stamps and have been turned down.

"I was there this morning and waited in line for an hour, just in line, and they said they couldn't see me today," said Tyffeni.

It is stories like these that Harvest Hope Food Bank Area Director Vickie Brannen is hearing more and more these days..

"We have seen an increase for our demand for service in the past year by 43%," said Brannen.

And Brannen said it's getting worse as the backlog increases to get food stamp benefits deposited on time.

So what is the South Carolina Department of Social Services doing to help? Spokesperson Marilyn Matheus said they are a couple of days behind in getting families currently on the program the money they need, especially if they don't apply for reinstatement on time. In a statement Matheus said, "We are in the process of adding temporary staff to help address this increase application." She added, "We also try to make referrals as necessary to area food banks when we know there will be a delay."

And as struggling families wait, Vickie is hoping the community will reach out to help.

If you need food assistance or would like to help with donations to the Harvest Hope Food Bank you can contact them at 864-281-3995.

To give you some more perspective on just how many people are hungry in South Carolina Brannen told us 1 in 8 people go to bed hungry. She also said Greenville County is ranked the third worst in the state for the number of people who don't receive an adequate amount of nutritious food.

For more information about the way you or a friend can keep from going hungry click here.