25% Increase in Food and Nutrition Services Helps Thousands of North Carolinians
posted by DorMiya Vance | October 4, 2021 | In NewsOctober 1 marked the beginning of the 25 percent increase in the Food and Nutritional Services (FNS) program for families across North Carolina. According to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, this increase is a “part of a national re-evaluation of benefit amounts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
Since 2006, individuals enrolled with this program received a monthly average of $121, but now that has risen to a monthly average of $157. The new benefit amount “is the result of a congressionally mandated re-evaluation of the program to determine if it reflects the current cost of a nutritionally adequate diet,” according to NCDHHS.
The Thrifty Food Plan revision was due to “benefit levels being too low to provide for a realistic, healthy diet.” Now that the rate for a cost-effective diet is 21 percent higher in today’s times, benefits will increase by $36.24 per month.
“A modernized Thrifty Food Plan is more than a commitment to good nutrition — it is an investment in our nation’s health, economy, and security,” according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
There are over 1.6 million individuals enrolled in the FNS program in North Carolina. Out of 1.6 million, 1.4 million deal with hunger, including 419,470 children in the state, according to Feeding America.
The 25 percent increase is indefinite as the temporary 15 percent COVID-19 pandemic increase ended on September 30.
NCDHHS Chief Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being, Susan Gale, viewed the increase as a way for households to have “enough nutritious food every day,” as well as “an essential part of health and well-being.”
Deputy Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Stacy Dean, agreed: “Too many of our fellow Americans struggle to afford healthy meals. The revised plan is one step towards getting them the support they need to feed their families.”
Photo courtesy of Army Medicine
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