1 In 4 Oklahomans Have Participated In Food Stamps This Year; 30% Of Children - Depression?

One in four Oklahomans - 880,939 people - participated in the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for at least one month in fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30.

Only three times in 40 straight months have food stamp participation rates dropped, and not by much. Those who claim the recession is easing are not taking into account the thousands on Oklahoma's food stamp rolls.

In August, the state recorded the highest number of food stamp participants - 622,911 - since the program began more than 40 years ago. Thirty percent of the state's children were fed at least in part by SNAP benefits. The Department of Human Services, which administers the program, is serving 84 percent more food stamps recipients than in 2002. Participation is up 20.5 percent from two years ago and up 45.3 percent from six years ago.

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And on a national level this chart tells the story

And effect (rising food costs)