Food Stamps Delayed by Bad Weather

TULARE, Calif. — Bad weather on the East Coast delayed delivery of federal food stamps to hundreds of people in Tulare County this week and caused a few to go hungry.

Arnie Fein, assistant director of the county’s Department of Public Social Services, said the delay was the longest he could recall. Fein said some offices run out of the stamps occasionally, but they usually are backed up with stamps from other offices.

Ramy Valdez, a food program assistant with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said stamps arrived at local distribution centers late Thursday morning.

The four-day delay could have been averted if the local agency which distributes the food coupons, the Low Income Consumer Organization, kept a required three-month stockpile on hand, Valdez said.