Changes in food stamps extra hard on some N.J. familes

A temporary increase in federal food stamp benefits expires at the end of the month.

Ray Castro with New Jersey Policy Perspective says the reduction will have a greater impact in the Garden State because the economy is not performing as well as it is in many other states.

“Even people who have jobs, many of them are getting part-time jobs, and that’s not going to be enough to support a family particularly in the high cost of living in our state,” he said.

Diane Riley is the director of advocacy for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. She says lower food stamp assistance will add to the hardship of low-income families.

“They’re going to turn to those food pantries that are struggling to just give out food, and they’re going to make difficult choices in their budgets, and I’m afraid it’s going to hurt their nutrition.”

Riley fears food pantries won’t be able to meet the expected increase in demand because they’re already low on supplies, and food donations usually drop after Thanksgiving.