KTVB.COM
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:35 PM
Updated Tuesday, Mar 1 at 10:48 PM
NAMPA -- Almost 228,000 (15% of the State's population) Idahoans are now on food stamps. The state has the largest growth in enrollment in the nation. But that record growth also means record lines at some grocery stores that say they can't keep up with the volume.
WinCo says the volumes of shoppers they're seeing on the first day of each month - when food stamps are handed out - is simply becoming unmanageable. The first day of the month at WinCo Foods in Nampa is by far their busiest. "Last month on the first of the month was actually the busiest single day this store had ever done," said Michael Read, WinCo Foods.
In just one hour, cashiers rang up more than 570 customers. But even with all 19 checkout lanes open, WinCo says it's difficult to manage that many shoppers. "It becomes a frustration for our customers and very often they'll just walk away from their cart," said Read. WinCo says most of the rush on the first of each month comes from food stamp recipients who all receive their assistance on the same day. And their numbers are skyrocketing.
In 2007, roughly 87,000 Idahoans needed food stamps. Five years later that number has jumped to nearly 228,000. WinCo says it would help if the 228,000 benefits were handed out over several days. But the state says that's not cost-effective.
"Going to something different, it's going to add cost to us," said Tom Shanahan, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Shanahan says the state used to distribute food stamps over five days in Idaho, but the five day system required more employees and was confusing to recipients.
"When you do it on the first of the month - no matter if it's a holiday, weekend - no matter what, you really have no confusion among the public," said Shanahan.
But WinCo isn't giving up their push. They're even lobbying the federal government, especially since the food stamp growth shows no signs of slowing. "We just simply want to be more effective and efficient in our business and be able to serve our customer more efficiently and effectively as well while keeping our cost down," said Read.
WinCo says other grocery stores share their concerns. The Northwest Grocers Association is lobbying the USDA to have food stamps distributed over 20 days.
