The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries' is an interfaith ministry that provides food and fellowship to people in need and educates our communities about hunger and poverty.

Food Stamp Hunger Awareness Challenge

What is the Challenge?
We are asking members of our community to eat for one day or one week on $3.30 per person per day, which is the average amount that an eligible person receives from food stamps. We then ask that the entrants record their experiences to share with all.

Why the Challenge?
We are honoring National Hunger Awareness Day this year by presenting this challenge. The participants and the readers of their blogs will hopefully both become more aware of the issues involving hunger and food insecurity.

When is the Challenge?
The challenge begins on Tuesday June 3, 2008 and goes to Tuesday June 10, 2008.

Do You Want to Take the Challange? It's easy-read the rules below, and keep a journal-daily or weekly of your experience. Then e-mail your diary to lsmith@shorelinesoupkitchens.org and she will upload it to this web site. If you would prefer to remain annonymous, please let us know. Otherwise we will use your name.

RULES:

• No food maybe accepted as a gift during this time. For example: No brownies from your co-worker. The thinking behind this is that you might not be able to reciprocate and would feel awkward in taking a gift you could not repay.

• If you need a condiment, you need to purchase it with your monetary allotment or it must be part of your starting pantry (see below). This includes salt, ketchup, sugar, etc.

• All that is eaten must be purchased with the $3.30 per day allotment. For example, do not eat food (including mints, gums, etc.) that was not paid for with the allotment but is in your refrigerator or pantry. Imagine you are starting with nothing; as many people go through their pantry completely before reaching out for help.

• Participants are also asked to keep a journal of their experience and e-mail it to lsmith@shorelinesoupkitchens.org so it may be posted on this site.

• You may start with a beginning pantry supply of what our food pantries supply to a person who needs an emergency stocking. These are the only food items that you may purchase with money other than the $3.30 per day. This would allow you the same beginning pantry as a person attending our pantries while you wouldn't be stressing our pantries supply. This is the list for one person...
• 1 jar of red sauce
• 1 pound of pasta
• 1 bottle of juice
• 2 cans vegetables
• 2 cans soups
• 1 can of fruit
• 1 can of beans or lentils
• 1 can of tuna
• 1 can meals (pasta & meatball type)
• 1 box of cereal
• 1 jar of peanut butter
• 1 starch sides (rice a roni type)
• 1 snack
• 1 meat for 1 meal
• 2 odds & ends (ketchup, sugar etc.)
• 1 half dozen eggs
• 1 pound butter blend