Calaveras County approves $124,000 to promote Food Stamps

03/15/2011 San Andreas, Ca.

By a 4-1 vote $124,640 was approved for marketing food stamps in Calaveras County Tuesday.

“Calaveras Works and Human Services will receive $124,640 for their performance in the contract.”

Apparently our government believes less fortunate people are not able to ask friends or make phone calls to inquire on their own about available assistance so they are giving out hundreds of thousands for advertising.

“The main focus is targeting residents who may be eligible for Cal Fresh benefits (Food Stamps) as well as other public benefits.”

This $124,000 is only part of an actual $350,000 grant from the Office of Community Services which includes funding for a Professor from California State University Sacramento to conduct a study to determine whether or not we as a county are adequately reaching all the needy in our communities. How the professor intends to make the determination is anyone’s guess.

The new county employee “will be responsible for processing applications and providing outreach to the community” and without further delay “It is recommended that the position be established effective March 15th, 2011 in order to begin work”

In the private business world this is what is referred to as a “Marketing Budget” to create an interest in a product that you hope to sell for a profit.

There is neither a product being sold for a profit, or a need to convince the consumer of the need. The end consumer is a less fortunate person who needs no marketing pitch.

Since when did anybody say they thought it was a good idea to spend tax dollars to conduct marketing campaigns to promote food stamps?

The most sickening aspect of all is thinking how much more food could be purchased to actually feed people in need, that is being spent on expensive research by a University Professor and marketing that does not need to be done.

When asked, the director admitted “Food Stamp rosters have doubled in the last two years” so it seems obvious people know where to find help and we have just successfully thrown another $350,000 down the drain.

How long do we have to wait until people say enough is enough?

I’m listening Calaveras…….