New York, NY – Queens City Councilman Eric Gioia wants Costco to start accepting food stamps – because the warehouse giant can offer deeply discounted prices on healthy food to the poorest New Yorkers.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
After living for a week on $28 worth of groceries – the average food stamp allotment paid to individuals – Gioia was unable to get enough to eat. He said that what he bought at local supermarkets was of little nutritional value.
“I’m hopeful that Costco will see they have a great opportunity to help families put healthy food on their tables at a healthy price,” Gioia told the Daily News yesterday.
“Not only is it morally right,” said the Democrat, “it’s good for [Costco’s] bottom line.”
Gioia sent letters to Costco President James Sinegal last week asking that the retailer start taking the federal subsidies.
Sinegal contacted the councilman’s office yesterday to say he is considering having Costco join the federal food stamp program, Gioia said. [nydailynews]
Solution: All food eligible to be purchased under the benefits program requires no Costco membership for benefit card holders. All ineligible food and other items require membership.
Costco sells most of the mainstream groceries that you can find in any supermarket across the US, just in larger sizes. Many items from the mainstream brands are kosher. Eg Nabisco, Kraft, Coke, General Mills. They also sell large quantity sizes of items from some Jewish brands eg. Kedem, Manachewitz, Beigels.
Many times, you can find better-than-average produce.
There are also many, large quantity, fresh items for those who aren’t stringent on Cholov Yisroel and Pas Yisroel (aside from the Jewish bakeries that they carry).
To 11:59 PM
Keyspan is also giving lower rates for people that are on public asistance. You have to ask for it.
BTW wich food can u buy at costco thats kosher?
To anonymous at 6:56 PM:
You said, “I feel it is unfair that others might get free membership while I have to pay. I also resent paying extra on my Verizon bill to supplement those with less. “
———————————-
You are looking at it the wrong way. Thank God you CAN afford the membership and CAN afford a phone bill. There are many people who can’t. It isn’t UNFAIR that you have to pay – it is a BLESSING that you CAN pay.
In addition, remember, your income and current bankroll is all in the hands of God. Just as he made you comfortable enough to pay membership, he made someone else to strapped to do that. Would you want to trade in the prosperity which allows you to pay for the insecurity of being too poor so that you can get a free handout.
Think of it as a blessing that you can help to subsidize food for other misfortunate human beings.
What is meant by Verizon is required to give lower rates for those getting benefits? Lower cell phone rates, house phone rates, or internet rates? Why are they “required” to do this, do they have an agreement with the government? How do I get this rate? I never heard of this. Any other companies give discounts for low income families? Are the food stamp offices suppose to tell you about this?
As a long time Costco member and the writer of the first post pertaining to this, I would care.
I feel it is unfair that others might get free membership while I have to pay. I also resent paying extra on my Verizon bill to supplement those with less. (There are 2 phone charges, one is federal tax and the other is built into Verizon rates because they offer very cheap service to anyone getting benefits.)
Then the issue becomes that some Costco items are not really cheaper.
Another issue is that membership pays some of Costco’s overhead, there will be busier stores with less profit and soon they will cut back and have longer lines.
Why would you care if people on food stamps can buy in Costco?
To “Those People”…
Let’s try to avoid using the term “shvartza chaleryeh” as we wouldn’t want to see Those “Jew Boys” in writing…
kricky it is a food ASSITANCE program to help with the food bill not pay it, inorder to get Foodstamps you need to be working or disabled. if you are disabled then you are on other goverment gravy trains, and if you are working then foodstamps is there to help you with your food bill not pay the entire thing
they should offer discounts for food stamp receiptients on leases for lexuses and acuras,hondas,toyotas !
to May 29, 2007 11:29 AM
That is exactly the idea SMARTY that the money we pay should go for the full use & right price
especially ppl with large fam. could (and SHOULD) certainly use it. (the membership is not there for entertanment)
Therefore i would recommend anyone with FS (elig.) should only buy there whatever they can.
How nice! I not only pay for these people’s food, but now I should also pay for their Costco membership?! Food stamps is supposed to be a supplement, not necessarily to pay for all your food in full. Get a job to help pay for the rest!
The other problem is that Costco has been able to do what it does because of the spped with which they move people on their line. Food stamp transactions take more time because each item or group is put through individually and that takes alot of extra time.
Correct, the food stamp program would need to pay the membership fee for theses consumers.
A big secondary issue is that most items at Costco, although may be less expensive on a pound for pound basis, the extended cost of a large size (10lbs of pasta) is more cash than these families may have on hand.
In fact, that is part of the marketing model for Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s, etc.. they attract high end consumers (or small business owners) based on the premise they need to be able to pay the membership and have the cash on hand to buy in such volume.
The problem is that Costco has a membership fee, will we now have free or subsidized membership for those getting benefits. For example, verizon is required to give lower rates to those getting benefits.