Staff Report
Published Feb. 6, 2012

Trident United Way and several partners are using an $88,000 federal grant to help simplify the process of applying for benefits for low-income families.

Trident United Way said the organization’s partners in The Benefit Bank-SC use an Internet-based counseling program to speed the process for applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, formerly known as food stamps.

Sixty area agencies and churches have partnered with The Benefit Bank-SC to provide the services in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

“Thanks to an $88,000 SNAP Outreach grant administered by The Benefit Bank-SC, we can expand to provide services to even more local people in need,” Trident United Way said in a statement. “That’s especially important because South Carolina is sixth worst in the nation for food insecurity, second worst among the elderly.”

The $88,000 will be used to train more providers and offer more services.