"I forgot how humiliating it was. I mean, we were poor {growing up}, but we were never actually on assistance. I didn't realize that people can't buy basic personal toiletries-you can't buy soap, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper."

- Pennsylvania Legislator

Our Work

Experience Living on a Food Budget

This piece of the Walk a Mile experience is a partial, but effective, simulation of life on a food budget -- a window into the experience. The food stamp experience is done on the honor system -- for personal education only. The difficulties encountered in staying within budget provide valuable lessons.

Policymaker participants are given a monthly budget amount based on the average food stamp allotment for their family size or on an estimated food budget for a foster youth. Families are asked to try to refrain from using any stored food purchased prior to the program.

It is essential that the low-income participant help put the policymaker's personal experiences in the context of a real-life situation, one that is complicated by issues such as transportation and childcare. There is no prescribed lesson from this exercise. Many policymakers report that they feel that the amount was not adequate to feed their family.

Some participants find that the amount is adequate for sustenance, but are surprised to find that living on the budget is time consuming, stressful, or humiliating for their children. Another common comment is that policymakers were not aware that food stamps could not be used to purchase personal hygiene items, detergent, or diapers.

Photo of a child.

"… you're able to really see how important it is for them to count every penny. Often times those of us who don't have to do that just pick up whatever looks good on the shelf and put it in our shopping cart. But this is a family that has to plan every meal-how many ounces of meat their children would eat."

- Pennsylvania County Official