44°'Produce Double Bucks" a success
Jul 05
2011
A month into it, the Produce Double Bucks program appears to be a complete success.
The program, which began on June 1, was put together by Huron County Healthy Food Partners.
What it essentially does, is, Ohio Direction Card holders can receive a gift certificate of $10 by purchasing $10 worth of fresh fruit and vegetables at Schild's IGA Marketplace and Gardner's SuperValu Foods.
The gift certificate can be used at the customer's next visit toward more fruits and vegetables.
Throughout the past two years, food assistance usage in Huron County has skyrocketed. "In October 2008, we had 5,600 on the food assistance program," said Teresa Alt, Huron County Job and Family Services director.
"By October 2010, that number was up to 8,722. That's a 56-percent increase."
Huron County JFS set aside $10,000 for the program, Alt said.
"The program has been successful," Alt added. "We've given out 600 coupons (certificates) so far and have funding for 1,100.
Alt said according to store owners, customers have been very appreciative of the program.
Alt said on top of the program, Schild's and Gardner's have agreed to add a 10-percent discount to the program as an in-kind contribution.
"So that really makes $11,000 available," she said. "And Fisher-Titus Medical Center is printing the coupons at their cost."
Now is the time of year for fruits and vegetables.
"It's summer and we're trying to make a big push," she said.
On Friday, Dawn Winkle from Ohio State University Extension and Joyce Klein, a dietetic intern from Bowling Green State University, were on hand at Gardner's SuperValu promoting the program.
"Today, since berries are in season, we are promoting that," Winkle said. "We are encouraging people on food stamps to eat more produce.
"Today, we have carrot and celery sticks with a hummus dip," she added.
"We are also promoting a healthier version of ice cream where we put berries on it instead of the usual toppings," Winkle said.
Customers appeared to be enjoying the hummus dip.
"It's something other than a dip high in fat," Winkle said.
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07:57 AM
truckin says
sorry many groups have always said if your a minority or make less than 20,000 yr it will NOT benefit you to vote republican...Why? because the democrats have got the poor, working poor exactly where they want people, and the goal is to acquire more Americans so they have to get welfare recps. the same benefits (freebies) like the 50-100,000 household range, with the hopes more people will just giveup. Say OK! i am done working so hard for what? I will slow down, join the poor clan,(raising the wage to match) vote democrat develop a slave labor society.. Then everyone will have NO choice but to go back to government control. KINGs and QUEEN mentality.. It's call rulers. People don't give up. Work hard pay your bills and make others on welfare, receiving these mere perks feel guilty, tell people at the checkout counter how they should thank you. Stop giving to all the wish trees at Christmas. They are full of kids who's parents have the time to fill out the forms, but not an application. I hear, It's for the Kid's??? well let the kids do without and maybe when they get older they will once again realize what it is like to do without and maybe just maybe make a change with there work ethic. Kinda like the free Cedar point passes recently passed out. Didn't hit the papers did it?? but it happened.06:38 PM
flowerchild65 says
Swiss, Flawed & Truckin: You took some words right out of my mouth (or at least out of my head)! My husband and I both have good paying jobs, but after paying all my bills I don't always have the extra $$ for the extra's. I'm tired of paying for those who WON'T help themselves. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't help others, but when does it end? Free housing, food, medical... the list goes on. I don't run my kids to the ER when they get a paper cut on their finger, but I know plenty of people on medicaid who would because they don't have to pay the bill! Make them accountable when it's NOT an emergency! (paper cut on the finger? ~$25 copay. Broken arm?~ that's an emergency so no copay) Don't like your job? Go ahead and quit! HUD housing will take care of you! If I don't like my job or I get fired, the bank man still expects me to pay my mortgage! Expecting baby number 3 (or 4, 5, 6).... it's ok. The government will pay for him/her. Not only will they not have to pay for a Dr bill or hospital, but their food stamps will go up, they'll qualify for a bigger apartment etc etc etc. And finally, call me The Grinch. I do not give to the giving trees at Christmas time. While I am sure there are plenty of deserving kids out there, I have seen some names repeated on different 'trees'. When you have a 'unique' name, it's a dead give away.11:52 PM
perfectly_flawed says
How's this..... move in with your rich boyfriend, don't bother to work.... and still get food stamps, a medical card (free health care), your ex husband's alimony/child support, and free lunches and fees for your kids. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?? Isn't this welfare fraud? I thought it went with HOUSEHOLD income. This person takes herself and her kids to the doctor/dentist AT LEAST 3-4 times a month on the medical card and uses the child support/alimony to go to crocker park every week. THIS is what ticks me off about 'the system'.10:19 AM
perfectly_flawed says
I know, right? I was thinking about those free cedar point passes. My kids would love to go to Cedar Point, and be completely GRATEFUL to go. So make it a lottery process and let anybody enter. I guarantee those people who are NOT on gov't assistance can't afford to take their deserving kids to Cedar Point just as much as those who ARE on assistance! I suppose I should just shut up and be grateful I have a job. I don't know about politics, I just know I'm sick of being a poor "professional" who shops at Aldi's to make sure I have enough to pay my bills.12:46 AM
swiss family says
perfectly flawed... I agree with you.... where is the discount for the average person who has to cut the extras out of their budget to make ends meet? I don't see anyone rewarding them with free vegetable incentives... you know , not to make this political, but as much as the Republicans and rep tea baggers screamed about getting back on track, and making things "right" again.. I sure haven't seen it... they said less government... so I would have thought that giving people who are already getting breaks, either deserved or not, would be eliminated... not pumped up and giving them more???? its too bad there isn't'; a real grass roots campaign where they really meant cutting out a lot of the extra intervention that the government hands out...08:15 PM
truckin says
Sure... buy the lettuce and tomato and still get the money for the burgers. I mean really... the non-working shouldn't have to go without the toppings. Buy the bananas and still get the money for the ice cream. Great deal huh? Fantastic....Well i want a thank-you. No matter how you shake it i contributed, along with many others.09:53 PM
perfectly_flawed says
Buy the potatoes and salad, get the steak to go with the dinner. My kids deserve to eat healthy, too, but I'm too busy actually PAYING for my hospital stays, insurance (car, health, life and renter's), rent, utilities, etc. I think I'll forever have a monthly bill to Fisher-Titus, just as I get one paid off, something new comes up, and no, I don't 'qualify' for help, so miss a payment, and the phone rings off the hook although my insurance pays 90%, I just don't have the cash on hand for the deductables (run on sentence or WHAT?). I guess I'm stuck with cheap hot dogs and mac and cheese! (just kidding, I am a great cook and can stretch my budget to include fresh fruit and veggies, why can't the food card be stretched like I have to stretch my paycheck? Oh, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE). Ok, I'll get off my high horse now. Sick of living check to check and never getting ahead. I guess I'm just one in a million of those 'poor' middle class, huh?12:11 PM
Kottage Kat says
I think this program is excellent, and agree, the community cooperation is nice to see. At the price of vegetables, I would be on this in a heartbeat. I am on my way to visit my favorite local grower in Milan. Eat healthy, B healthy. Support local growers when ever possible. kat;} with a K10:48 AM
rebel.yeller says
it's fantastic when our local owned businesses work to help people inside their own community! GREAT JOB!!!