Economic Conditions Lead to Increased use of Food Stamps

Now one in eight Americans, and one in four children, use food stamps. Current usage is estimated at more than 36 million and growing at a rate of 20,000/day. In 239 counties in the US, over 25% of the population uses food stamps. Go to
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/28/us/20091128-foodstamps.html to see an interactive map showing the breakdown by county of food stamp usage as well as the growth in use from 2007 to 2009. (Maricopa County had a 69% growth in usage from 2007-09.)