Being a recipient of "free" food, I can agree. But also want to say I wish there were an different ways to help the poor. We accept the food not because we'll go hungry without it, but because it frees up cash for other things, like gas for the the car, electricity, cat food, snow plowing in the winter, etc.

In our rural area we have a program called Rural Resources that helps a lot - especially senior citizens. They help pay propane & electric bills, give vouchers for the farmer's market and low cost meals at a few restaurants.

Food stamps are more helpful than the food handouts - I can choose healthy food. But the government thinks those of us who receive the benefit are chiselers - the amount we get keeps going down.