Tuesday, May 31 2011 4:13PM
Even though many L.A.-area Latinos are elgible for the SNAP program, a number of them aren't applying.
Not understanding the requirements for eligibility is one of the suspected reasons why many Latino families living in rural communities outside Los Angeles are not taking advantage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to EGP News.
The source states one out of four Latinos in the rural area around L.A. is food insecure. Feeding America, a domestic hunger relief organization, is working to increase awareness to the Latino community about the benefits of the program.
"Together we have the power to inform the nation about the struggles that our low-income Latino communities face and advocate for better support for our neighbors in need," Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, told the source.
Max Finberg, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, told the source food banks are needed to meet the demand of Latinos and other rural residents struggling to get low-cost, nutritious food.
According to the USDA, only 56 percent of SNAP-eligible Latinos are enrolled in the program.