The Coolidge examiner., 1940-03-14

Washington, announced selection
of these three counties as the first
areas in the State for operation
OF the plan.
1t is anticipated that the plan
will start operating in these coun-
ties in about month. or as soon
as the necessary machinery can
he set up, Jonathan Garst, Region
al Director of the Food Stamp
Division of the Federal Surplus
Commodities Corporation, declar-
ed
Based on the Corporations ex-
perience in other areas where the
plan has been operating, Garst
estimated that the Food Stamp
Plan viii provide monthly more
than 100000 dollars of increased
purchasing power in these three
counties. This will mean an in
crease of at least this much in
food stores in these areas as the
Stamp Plan provides for distribut-
ing surplus commodities through
the regular channels of trade.
Garst recommended extension OF
the plan to Maricopa, Pinal and
Gila counties after a conference
with Governor Robert Jones, Harry
Hill. director of the State Depart
ment of Social Security and We'll
fere and representatives Of the
Farm Bureau Federation of Arf-
zona. He announced that Wesley
A. Carter will be Acting Local
Representative of the Food Stamp
Division of the Federal Surplus
Commodities Corporation during
the period of installation and will
set up an office in Phoenix to
supervise the Food Stamp Plan In
these three counties.
A special committee of the food
industry will be formed to ac-
quaint al local grocery operators
with the plan and seek their CO.
operation. All retail food merch-
ants will be- invited to attend
general meetings in these coun-
ties in the near future at which
the plan will be explained in full.
FARMERS AIDED IN DIsPosINc
OF SURPLUS
The primary purpose of the
Food Stamp Plan is to assist
farmers profitably to dispose OF
their surplus food products, Garst
said. The plan is ideal in that it
rot only aids the farmers, but in
addition makes two other distinct
contributions to the general weA-
fare. 1t provides more food and
better balanced diet for public
assistance families. That will i'm
rrove the public health and bene-
fit the future of our people. And
Il increases the volume of sur
plus foods moving through the
regular trade channels. That Will
help business generally. Better
business in the city means more
income an dhence an increased
market for farm products. Increas-
ed business activity also leads TO
unemployment with correspond
ing purchasing power available for
additional farm commodities.
In areas where the Food Stamp
Plan has been in o peration, house
wives, other than public assistance
recipients, also have been benefit-
ed bv the plan This has been due
to the fact that the increased
sales volume of surplus food pro-
ducts has resulted in savings
which tend to be passed on to all
customers by the retail food mer-
chants competing for this addition
al business.
OVER $4,000 ELIGIBLE FOR AID
IN THREE COUNTIES
1t is stated that out of total
population recently estimated as
$4,000 in the three counties
there are about 21,S00 households
representing some S4,100 persons
eligible to receive some form OF
public assistance. This figure in
cludes approximately 27.411 per-
sons in WPA families.
Participation in the Food Stamp
Plan is ntirely voluntary. How
ever. all persons certified by the
State Department Of Public Wei
fare as eligible to take part, may
purchase with their WPA earn
ings. Old Age Assistance, Aid to
Dependent Children, Aid to the
Bland, or General Relief, as the
case may be-orange colored food