Fresh2You Program - Double Food Stamps

[KriyaYogi]

   I recently discovered that my state has added an extra incentive for people on food stamps to buy local.  They have introduced a new program such that if you use food stamps to buy your food at the local mobile food mart or farmers market you can purchase twice as much.  So if you purchased 100% of your food from the farmers market in New York and get full food stamps benefits which are 281$ you can purchase 562$ of groceries.  Of course our farmers markets are only open 6 to 7 months per year here.


"ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday that a new initiative is being launched that will double the buying power for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at farmers' markets across New York State.

According to the news release, the FreshConnect Fresh2You program will provide New Yorkers with a dollar-for-dollar match, that will give families in need the ability to purchase more healthy food, including produce, dairy, and meats. "

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/gov-hochul-announced-double-buying-power-for-snap-benefits-health-wny-food/71-54b416ce-96bd-429f-8c32-d1d675930be6


My town market opens in mid June so I will be checking it out.  Perhaps this program will help me pay for some of my other monthly expenses, I guess I will see what shops at the local market accept this credit.

Maybe some of you guys have similar state programs

-David

[Jhanananda]

David, you get way more food stamps than I have ever gotten.  It would be great to continue to receive $250 worth per month, which I received during the pandemic. Now I am receiving $150 worth, which is still pretty good, as long as I utilize the Food Banks as much as possible.

It is worth noting that some states are more generous than others. As we seen New York state is very generous. So are California and Colorado, so anyone wishing to conduct a long retreat will likely find these states good places to do such a retreat.

However, applying for food stamps can be a real challenge and can take months to negotiate. Twenty years ago when I started my retreat I stumbled upon a rather interesting solution to getting food stamps. For my health I have found long water fasts helped a great deal, so back in August of 2003 I was about 10 days into a water fast when I went to the local food stamp office in Tucson and while standing at the counter I became faint, and I was seriously dehydrated due to the intense heat of Tucson. So, I became faint, and grabbed onto the counter and paused while speaking to the social worker for an appointment, and said, "I'm sorry, but I have been fasting for 10 days, and I am really thirsty. Do you have a water fountain I can use?"

She pointed to the fountain, and I went right there and took a long drink, when I got back to the counter she had $150 worth of food stamps waiting for me, and I continued to receive them for years afterwards.

[KriyaYogi]

Wow that's intense Jeff.  I tend to credit Bagla Kali for my blessings like this, as far as the stamps go, but who really knows where her influence is.  I've had a number of financial serendipities in the last few years.  I was originally told I could only get stamps for 3 months but then later I found out due to high unemployment New York was suspending the requirement.

I do get the maximum amount yes.  In New York it is currently 281$ monthly up from 250$ early last year.  During the pandemic until a month ago they were supplementing this with an extra 95$.  I found out by it suddenly being deposited into my account monthly in the fall.  So I was getting 376$ monthly.  New York determines how much you get in stamps based on your monthly income.  Below 300$-400$ a month you get full benefits and now they have upgraded Fresh2you to get the fully unemployed up to possibly 550ish monthly.  I wonder if I will be able to use this new credit to buy clothing or local wine at the farmers market, which are current expenses for me.  Probably not but I will see in 6 weeks when the market opens.  I do believe we have a clothing vendor that sells there.


   I can also say that like you it took me 2 months plus to get food stamps.  There were various hiccups and I had to keep checking in.  Generally my local social services office was friendly though when I did check in but they did not have enough staff, they kept telling me, to complete the applications.

   They were 'legally' supposed to give me the stamps within 30 days of application or tell me I was ineligible but it took 10 weeks.  After 30 days the Albany state office says you can file for your worker to appear in court if they have not replied to your food stamps application.  I was just about to do that after 10 weeks and was talking to the Albany head office when they finally approved me.



I probably need to fast as well, the sedentary lifestyle over the last 2 years meditating and chanting a lot as well as the beer and whole milk has caused me to put on 20 pounds.  Despite walking 15-20 miles a week I have gained weight.  I have had a fast on my mind for a while now, just a matter of deciding to shift gears and do it I suppose.  When I was younger I did longer Juice Fasts.

-David

[Tad]

Hi David,

I think if you ran 15 miles a week instead of walking it would make a difference LOL.

BTW, I lived in upstate NY for about 2 years. I went to Syracuse several times, but I was not a fan of it. I liked the feeling in Rochester and Buffalo more even though I went there only once. Overall, I enjoyed upstate NY with lots of wilderness, forests, lakes, rivers, falls, gorges... I miss it sometimes.

[KriyaYogi]

Nice bro, I have lived in several major New York cities, Buffalo, Albany Area during college and Syracuse.  I'm at my parents place now since 2014 which is near Geneva, NY.  Halfway between Rochester and Syracuse.

Syracuse can be tough, it gets the golden snowball award regularly which is given to the New York state city with the most snowfall.  You would think it would be Buffalo but often Syracuse gets its.  Here are the historic winners year by year:
http://www.goldensnowball.com/yearly-winners-golden-award.htm


Yes if I ran it would make a difference but I do mantra while walking, I don't feel capable of doing that while running.  I'm considering a slowdown for some fasting in summer or fall.  I've not needed much beer lately, so I think I have lost a few pounds.  I may quit drinking and that itself could make the difference, although it is fun occasionally.


New York is great for hiking.  We have a large amount of Waterfalls.  I used to like to go and meditate near them.  There are 30 or 40 withing an hours drive.  Not to mention we have the falls with the world's highest flow volume, Niagara.  I have this book somwhere on the bookshelf...

"200 Waterfalls in Central and Western New York: A Finder's Guide"
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/200-waterfalls-in-central-and-western-new-york-rich-freeman/1115804374

-David