2008 Woodie Awards
ConnPIRG Draws Student Attention To Connecticut Hunger And Poverty
Michelle Firestone
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
Nineteen students ended their six-day period of starvation when the Peer Interest Research Group (PIRG) ended its Food Stamp Challenge Friday.
The challenge - which began March 29 - was designed to increase awareness of the issues of hunger and homelessness by having students experience what it is like to live on welfare. Participants went on a group shopping trip to Big Y before the challenge began to purchase the food they would live off of during the week.
The nation's food stamp program is designed to help those whose incomes fall under the poverty line, which is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living.
The nationwide average for a food stamp is $4 a day, according to a flier PIRG gave challenge participants. UConn students experienced what it was like to live on welfare by buying food for the six days on a $24 budget.
On Friday, Kathryn Post, a 4th-semester psychology and human development and family studies major and co-coordinator of the campaign, said the challenge was very difficult but that students were sticking to their diet as far as she knew.
"Everyone's hungry, tired, cranky, and tired of their selection," she said.
Post said everyone she had spoken to had stuck to the diet. Students kept a video diary of their experiences.
The students did not budget $4 a day, but tried to get the widest range of food they could for $24. The goal was to make as many meals as possible with their food. Ramen, bread, and peanut butter and jelly were popular grocery items.
"They got as much food for as little as possible," Post said. "If something was two for five they got that even they didn't like it because it meant saving money."
According to Post, students did not have a problem sticking to their budget and many were actually under budget.
"A lot of students spent less so that they could save money," she said.
PIRG's president, for example, set aside money to treat himself to Wendy's one day.
The challenge - which began March 29 - was designed to increase awareness of the issues of hunger and homelessness by having students experience what it is like to live on welfare. Participants went on a group shopping trip to Big Y before the challenge began to purchase the food they would live off of during the week.
The nation's food stamp program is designed to help those whose incomes fall under the poverty line, which is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living.
The nationwide average for a food stamp is $4 a day, according to a flier PIRG gave challenge participants. UConn students experienced what it was like to live on welfare by buying food for the six days on a $24 budget.
On Friday, Kathryn Post, a 4th-semester psychology and human development and family studies major and co-coordinator of the campaign, said the challenge was very difficult but that students were sticking to their diet as far as she knew.
"Everyone's hungry, tired, cranky, and tired of their selection," she said.
Post said everyone she had spoken to had stuck to the diet. Students kept a video diary of their experiences.
The students did not budget $4 a day, but tried to get the widest range of food they could for $24. The goal was to make as many meals as possible with their food. Ramen, bread, and peanut butter and jelly were popular grocery items.
"They got as much food for as little as possible," Post said. "If something was two for five they got that even they didn't like it because it meant saving money."
According to Post, students did not have a problem sticking to their budget and many were actually under budget.
"A lot of students spent less so that they could save money," she said.
PIRG's president, for example, set aside money to treat himself to Wendy's one day.
Be the first to comment on this story