The Courier-Express from Dubois, Pennsylvania • Page 11

Food Stamps Helping Local People BYDANSMREKAR STAFF WRITER As the expected recession period in the months ahead begins to wear at the economic situation of the people in the county, many may be worrying about how to brighten their picture, One of the quickest helps could be the popular food stamp program. Clearfield County is the leading county in the state in making use of the federal food stamp program established by the Department of Agriculture and administered through the welfare offices. The food stamp program in the area has become a big boost to the grocery shopping power of many area residents who have been deemed eligible to receive them after investigation by the county welfare office. According to Helen Blessing at the county welfare office in Clearfield, most of the people in the county who are eligible for the food stamps are taking advantage of the break. A normal load of food stamp applications in a given month usually varies from 80 to slightly over 100.

However, during November there was a huge jump to 270 applications. Last month there were 265 new applications and even more are expected this month to practically swamp personnel who check on the program. Ms. Blessing, who is trained on all the aspects of food stamps, attributes some of the applications to seasonal layoffs and other applications to people who are in trouble trying to keep up with the rising cost of food. However, she is quick to point out that there are some people eligible for food stamps who are actually on the work force.

The only way to know if a family or individual qualifies for the food stamp program is to check with the welfare office or at different sites maintained once each month. DuBois residents can find out if they are eligible by stopping into the John E. DuBois Fire Hall on First usually around the first Wednesday of each month. The agricultural food stamp program has been around for some time and actually followed the forerunner surplus food campaign of years ago when people were able to get boxes of corn meal, canned meat, cheese, flour and other items. Determining whether people are eligible for food stamps is complicated, with many factors involved such as boarding, bank accounts, and working children in a family.

FAMILY OF FOUR An example of being qualified follows for a family of four. With four persons in a household and the net monthly income is $513 a month or less, they can obtain food stamps, MORE POWER--The Department of Agriculture food stamp coupon program has taken a huge jump in Clearfield county which has become a leader in the program. It is a method for many families to battle the high price of eating: It's worth thinking about in the months ahead. (C-E Photo by Tim Irwin) Save This Handy List For Reference Consumers Can Call Or By The Associated Press Got a gripe? The federal government has almost two dozen persons ready to listen whether your problem concerns food, 'travel, housing or any of a dozen other areas. Here is a list, compiled by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, of officials to write or telephone if you have a consumer problem: Food Nancy Steorts Special Asst, to the Secy, for Consumer Affairs Agriculture Dept.

Washington, D.C., 20250 Telephone: 202-447-3165 Air Travel Jack Yohe Director Office of the Consumer-' Advocate Civil Aeronautics Board Washington, D.C., 20428 Telephone: Business Sam Sherwjn Deputy Asst, Secy, for Domestic Commerce Commerce Dept, Washington, 20230 Telephone; 202.967-5491 Consumer Information David Peterson Director, Consumer Information Center General Services Administration Washington, 20407 Telephone: 202-343-6171 Product Safety Mary Kay Ryan Special Assistant for Legal Matters Consumer Product Safety Commission 5401 Westbard Aye. Bethesda, 20307 Telephone; Energy Hazel Rollins Director for Consumer Affairs Special Impact Write About Complaints Federal Power Commission Washington, D.C., 20426 Telephone: 202-386-6081 Food, Drugs, Cosmetics Dr. John Harvey Senior Educational Director Office of Consumer Affairs Food Drug Administration 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, 20852 Telephone: 301-443-3170 Advertising, Credit, Fraud J. Thomas Rosch Director Bureau of Consumer Protection Federal Trade Commission Washington, D.C., 20850 Telephone: 202-962-0151 Older Americans Decker Anstrom Asst. to the Commissioner Administration on Aging Health, Education Welfare Dept, Washington, D.C., 20201 Telephone: 202-245-0724 Consumer Affairs Virginia Knauer Director Office of Consumer Affairs Washington, D.C., 20201 Telephone: 202-245-6164 Education Dr- Virginia Y.

Trotter Asst, Secy, for Education Office of Education Health, Education Welfare Dept. Washington, D.C., 20202 Telephone; 202-245-8430 Homing Urban Development Wilbur JQnes Consumer Affairs Coordinator Housing Urban Development Pept. Washington, p.c., 8Q410 Telephone: 2Q2-755-7976 Ann Richardson Special Asst, to Asst, Secy, for Prpgram Budget Interior Pept- Interstate Commerce Commission Washington, D.C., 20423 Telephone: 202-343-4141 Antitrust Gregory B. Hovendon Chief Consumer Affairs Section Antitrust Division Justice Dept. Washington, D.C., 20530 Telephone: 202-739-4173 Work Regulations, Wages Retirement, Pensions Joanne Gordon Special Asst.

to the Secretary Labor Dept, Washington, D.C., 20210 Telephone; 202-961-2027 Stocks Bonds Barbara J. McTigue Consumer Liaison Officer Securities Exchange Commission Washington, D.C., 20549 Telephone: 202-755-4845 Car Safety, Highways Public Transportation Antonina P. Uccello Director Office of Consumer Affairs Transportation Dept. Washington, D.C., 20590 Telephone: 202-426-4518 Alcohol, Guns, Taxes, Travel John Auten Director Office of Financial Analysis Treasury Dept. Washington, D.C., 20220 Telephone: 202-964-5914 Mail Thomas Chadwick Consumer Advocate U.S.

Postal Service Washington, D.C., 20260 Telephone: 202-245-4550. D.C., 80461 Telephone; Emmett J. Assistant to the But Trtin Trtvf Qffw Volunteer Officers Installed Members of Volunteer Hose Company No, 1 of PuBois installed their officers for 1975 at their final meeting of 1975. Hose House officers are headed by Jim Pamus, president, Tom Swauger, vice-president, Wayne Crater, secretary and Robert Baronick, treasurer, The three trustees are William Clark, Tom Swauger and John Downey, Line officers installed were Robert Baronick, captain, James Pungey, 1st Lieutenant, John Downey, 2nd lieutenant and Jack Knarr, chief truck driver, Pelegates to the Fire Department are Robert Baronick, William Clark, Jim Pamus, John Powney and James Pungey, Pelegates to the Relief Association are James. Paraus, Thomas Swauger, -Pent Snenkle and William Clark.

Thomas Swauger will serve as chairman of the kitchen, Robert Baronick, Captain ef the Volunteers, was elected to seek election as 2nd Assistant Fire Chief when the elections take placj Jan, 87 at Third Ward Hose House, Prior to the installatjszn. tfte members and guests enjoyed a supper prepared by Hose Company phjf, Accountants Technical Session Set The Pennsylvania Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Accountants, one of over 300 chapters world-wide, will hold their monthly technical session at the Summit Motel Jan. 22. A social will start at 5:30 followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The guest speaker for the evening will be Mr.

Lester Rice, Vice President of Marketing, Airco Electronics. Mr. Rice, a long time veteran in the Sales and Marketing sections of the Electronics Industry, has been in his present position with Airco since 1968. He started his career with Westinghouse where he advanced to General Sales Manager of the Semi Conductor Division. Mr, Rice's subject for the evening will be "The Reliance of Sales and Marketing on Effective Financial Reporting and Analysis.

He will discuss how various types of analysis tie into the achievements of his objectives in the market place. Reservations should be made with Larry Mock at Brpckway Glass. provided their assets limit (or bank account) is $1,500 or less. For a family of three people the income limit is $406 a month and again the $1,500 asset limit. For households of two or more persons with a member or members aged CO or over, the assets limitation is $3,000.

Persons not eligible for food stamps include those who eat all meals in restaurants; those who are boarding; and those people who are patients in nursing homes. Because of the large amount of people in the county using food stamps, it appears that a lot of the families are really getting a more healthful diet with the supplemented income. There are however, according to the public assistance office, some people who miss out on the food bargains because they arc reluctant to tell interviewers their financial circumstances. It seems that pride sometimes gets into the way of people who really could use the agricultural program. POSSIBLE SAVINGS An example of what the food stamp program can mean is: --Say a single person or widow qualifies.

If she pays nine dollars she will be able to get $23 worth of food stamps. Or when she buys twice monthly, she can get $46 worth of food stamps at a cost of $18. --A family of four people with a net income of $420 a month can pay $122 for stamps in a month and in return receive stamps valued at $154. Almost any grocery store in the county takes the food stamps and the people in the program get a real food break. The food stamp program isn't the only help around for people who will be experiencing the squeeze of recession in the months to come.

At the county board of assistance office, other services provided include financial and budgetary counseling; counseling for personal enrichment and growth; employment counseling; ns well as financial and medical assistance. At the local office of employment security is the new special unemployment assistance program which covers unemployed farmers, school workers, and other people not covered under regular unemployment compensation. A check of that program shows that only a very few have applied for the special unemployment assistance program. During the expected recession period, families and individuals may have a hard time with their economic situations, but they can have some assurance that there are plenty of programs and agencies in the county that can lend a big helping hand should the going get really rough. (Fbe Courier Thursday, January 16, 1975 Page Eleven V' I The DuBois Area Jaycees have announced that the swimming pool area will be open for ice-skating this weekend if weather conditions permit, Hopefully, there will be a safe ice base for supervised skating.

Skating hours are slated from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be a small admission charge, and the concession stand will be operating, Pictured are Jaycee committee member Dr. William Stitt (checking the ice), along with Terry Chilelli and Fred Shenrms as they prepare for use of the pool for ice- skating. (Photo submitted) Rail Meeting Of Fraternity Open To Public Robert E.

Hetherington, Regional Affairs Director, Region II, United States Railway Association (USRA) will speak on the "Rail Reorganization Act of 1973" at the Lithuanian Independent Club in DuBois at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, Before joining USRA in August and for nearly four years, Hetherington was Press Secretary to U. S. Senate Republican Leader Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania and was his principal spokesman.

AS Regional Affairs Director, Hetherington will work with governmental and community leaders in the States of New Jersey, West Virginia, Ohio and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania- The Railway Association was created by the 93rd Congress to reorganize the- bankrupt railroads in the Northeastern and Midwestern states, from Illinois to New England. Before coming to Washington, Hetherington was Public Relations Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation from 1963 to 1970. Nathan Finkelstein, Public Counsel, Rail Services Planning Office (RSPQ) Washington, D. will also be in attendance at this meeting. The RSPQ was also established by Congress within the Interstate Commerce Commission to involve the general public in the planning process and to evaluate the plans developed by USRA.

This is a dinner meeting sponsored by the Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Fraternity, Seneca Chapter 164 for the purpose of transportation education and enlightenment. The meeting is open to the public and reservations will be accepted by the Traffic Department of Penntech Papers no later than Friday. Jan. yi..