VOA标准英语2010-More Americans Turn to Food Stamps For He

Food stamp recipient¹ pays for groceries in New York

The economic downturn and ongoing² under-employment in the U.S. have resulted in a big increase in the number of Americans using food stamps.  Once considered a social safety net for only the lowest income Americans, the use of federally funded food stamps has grown dramatically over the last two years. New government data shows one in eight Americans now rely on food stamps to make ends meet.

With nearly 15 million Americans out of work, a program once reserved for welfare recipients³ is becoming a fact of life for more Americans.

Musician and writer Rosalind Block is one of nearly 40 million people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as  food stamps.

After the recession hit, Block says she lost most of her clients, and then the father of her son died, leaving her with few choices. "You know, here I am, Ivy⁴ League educated (by a top rated university), middle-aged⁵ person, you know, I should have my act together far more than to be in a situation like this.  But when times are tough, I grabbed it," she said.

Block is not alone.  In the last two years, U.S. government reports show the food stamp program added 11 million people - an increase of more than 40 percent.

Carlos Rodriguez at the New York City Food Bank says the recession had an impact on people from all walks of life. "We've had stories of families who had reserves and savings⁶, so they were playing by all the rules and making the best of their situation and this economic crisis has provided them with the need to come and access services that quite frankly⁷, many of them never thought that they would be eligible⁸ or knew, were there for them," he said.

To be eligible, households must meet certain income requirements.  For a family of four, that's a net monthly income of less than two thousand dollars per month.

Robert Doar, Commissioner⁹ of Social Services in New York City, says the most notable trend has been the increase in the number of working poor. "In the old days food stamps was a safety net program for people that were not working.  Now it's very much a work support, a work supplement for people that are working, and that's a big change," he said.

With so many Americans needing help, some say the other big change has been to the social stigma¹⁰ once attached to food stamps. 

Rosalind Block says any sense of shame she once felt has now been replaced by relief and gratitude¹¹.
 

1 recipient   

a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器

参考例句：

• Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
• Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

5 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

6 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

7 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

8 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

9 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

10 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

11 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。