County food stamp use soared during recession

RBC I The use of food stamps in Rio Blanco County increased during the recession, assisting families in stretching their food dollars, contributing to local spending and helping spark a national debate about the future of the federal nutrition program.
The proportion of Rio Blanco County residents receiving food stamps hit 7.9 percent in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services. That’s an increase of 4.9 percentage points since…