Seattle Press on Line - Somali Grocers Still Unable to Accept Food Stamps

Rainier Valley

Somali Grocers Still Unable to Accept Food Stamps

Jun 20, 2002 -- RAINIER VALLEY-- Three South End Somali grocery stores are still restricted from accepting food stamps from customers. The appeals process is under way to restore the Maka Mini-market, Madina Mini-Market, and Towfiq Supermarket to the food stamp program, but in the meanwhile hundreds of low-income Muslim familes are unable to locally buy Halal meat, prepared in accordance with Muslim requirements.

The markets' disqualification from the food stamp program resulted from common ethnic practices, such as buying meat by the dollar instead of by the pound (so purchases often came out to even dollar amounts), buying several weeks' food supply at once, and carpooling to market so that many large transactions were made back to back. These all raised red flags with the food stamp administration, and the markets were first warned and then disqualified when the practices did not stop.

The Church Council of Greater Seattle has set up the Somali Fund to ease the economic hit taken by the markets, and at the same time provide Halal meats to the food stamp families affected. A $40 donation buys half a goat, which will feed 10 people. For more information, call Hate Free Zone Campaign of Washington at (206) 723-2203. To donate, send your check made out to CCGS with "Somali Fund/Food Stamp" as a notation, to Hate Free Zone, 4860 Rainier Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98118.

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Anonymous	May 08, 2003
SOMALI PEEPS IS MY FAMILY!