Governor David A. Paterson today announced a historic collaboration with George Soros and the Open Society Institute (OSI) that will provide one-time, $200 grants to more than 800,000 children in low-income families across New York State to help purchase school supplies as they prepare to return to class in September. Families who receive public assistance or food stamps can access this one-time Back-To-School Supplement of $200 per school-aged child (ages 3 through 17) starting today. The Governor was joined by Mr. Soros and other elected officials at P.S. 208 in New York City today to make the announcement.
“This first-of-its-kind partnership in New York is an example of how the public and private sectors can work together to foster a brighter future for the low-income families of our State,” Governor Paterson said. “These $200 grants will provide thousands of families with a much needed financial boost so that they can better meet the needs of their children as they prepare to go back to school. This partnership is a continuation of my commitment to aggressively identifying opportunities to use economic stimulus funds to help our neediest New Yorkers and to bolster our State’s economy.”
The supplements will be placed in accounts for each eligible family that can be accessed with their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which are normally used to access public assistance and food stamp benefits. Two-thirds of the eligible recipients of the back-to-school supplements are in food stamp-only households, and the majority of these households are low-income working families or families receiving unemployment benefits.
Families can use the money to buy their children books, pencils, pens, notebooks, calculators, backpacks, shoes, tutoring, school uniforms and other clothing and essential school items. Families should look to take advantage of discounts offered by retailers in the coming weeks before school starts. The $175 million in Back-To-School Supplements will provide an economic boost to communities throughout the State as families purchase supplies, bolstering back-to-school retail sales.
Families should also check the New York State Consumer Protection Board/s “Stretch Your Dollar” tips at www.consumer.state.ny.us/syde_page.htm, to get ideas on how to make the back-to-school funds buy more while spending less to help their children. Recipients’ eligibility for public assistance, food stamps, child support and medical assistance will not be affected by receiving these one-time Back-To-School Supplements.
NOTE: Click HERE to check you food stamp status online.
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19 Responses
Nice idea, but not sustainable in the long run.
there is nothing like free money and it is kosher to .
I JUST CHECKED MY CARD, MONEY IS THERE…
To: The people who work hard and are not eligible for foodstamps,
Don’t worry, Hashem has many ways how to send money, Obama is not the only source.
As long as the Government will reward only the people who don’t work, it can be sure that more and more people will go for that life style.
If the Government wants people to go out and try to earn money, let it show appreciation to the fellows who STIMULIZE THE ECONOMY, and reward them instead of taking away their hard earned money, sending them the message to “rather stay home and I’ll support you”
I WONDER IF I CAN BUY WITH THIS MONEY “CHAMUSHIM
AND G’MUROS ETC. TOO
#6 It might be considered a MITZVAH HABO B’AVAIREH
#5 100% right!
The govt. did the same thing with the lottery for Youth Corps: only those kids whose families get govt. help, e.g food stamps, were eligible to enter the lottery! If a kid whose parents don’t subscribe for food stamps, section eight or the likes, ort the family whose income may have been a tad above the level for those programs but still within the guidelines for youth corps, the kid was refused!
TEFLON DEMOCRATS @ THEIR BEST!
# 5 there was a recent article in the new york post that people who use food stamps give the economy the biggest bang for the buck , because they spend the money and it trickles down to the rest of the economy.
Be aware that George Soros (Y’M) is an openly Torah-hating Jew who, with his Open Society Institute, has financed and continues to finance MUCH of Obama’s nomination, election and post-election activities, including such outfits as Acorn.
What has he up his sleeve? As far as I know, he has never supported real Tzedakah activities.
What is the vote-gathering meaning to this?
Is this kosher money?
Remember that he openly gloated about the financial market crash, saying he never made as much money before that disaster!
this is called buying people you see the dems are very good this george soros is a no good nek trys to buy votes for the dems nad obama
#4 and #5 — What does Obama have to do with a priavte act of charity by a private foundation. While Mr. Soros generally supports the Democrats, he is using his own money (he’s a well known professional investor). Not even the most ultra-Calvinist “red meat” conservative objects to private charity (BTW, Jews even consider it a mitzvah).
#5
whats a better feeling- to work hard for your money and have it
or get it for free, and be very penny pinching….wats 200 dollars when ur living a jewish life style with shabbos, yom tov…kosher foood…tznius clothing, tuition!!!200 is maybe the tax…
trust me, with this $200 these people are not going to buy school supplies. they will take the cash out and buy cigarettes and junk.
#5
People who get foodstamps and medicaid must work.
We are not getting rewarded for not working, we just are not getting enough money from work, so we get help from the government.
In this stimulated economy, many jobs have been eliminated, many businesses have folded. Don’t you think that many of the people receiving food stamps really would rather be working,but are having trouble getting a job? The longer you’re out of work, the greater the odds against getting hired. Or, as #11 pointed out, they are working, but it’s not enough. And they are not likely to spend the money on “cigarettes and junk,” but on the specified items, which are not covered by food stamps but do eat into a budget.
135 million came from the stimulus fund. 35 million was from soros
#5 NOT TRUE
#15
It is not true.Medicaid You can get without working.Foodstamps also ,if you have kids, you not must work.