Food Stamp is a government-funded program in the United States. This is a program that helps people buy food for their families; in other words, it is a very important program for families living in poverty. It is the nation's largest program in the fight against hunger. This program was developed in the 1960s; it is done to improve the nutritional level and food purchasing power of low-income people. This program is offered to people who cannot afford to buy groceries for their families, regardless of age, color, gender or religion. Food Stamps can only be used to purchase food items, not hygiene or household items, and are only offered on a monthly basis. Today SNAP is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. “SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The name was changed to SNAP to meet customer needs, which include a focus on nutrition and an increase in the amount of benefits received” (“Supplemental Nutrition,” 2011). Another detail of SNAP is its ability to respond to changing needs caused by economic cycles or natural emergencies at the local, state and national levels. It ranks second to unemployment insurance in its responsiveness to economic changes. SNAP is very helpful for low-income families' monthly resources, increasing the chances that families will be able to meet basic needs. Needs and Goals According to Dolgoff and Feldstein (2003), “the needs and goals of the Food Stamp Program are to alleviate hunger and malnutrition by enabling low-income families to purchase a nutritious and adequate diet” (p. 132). The program has also improved the market for local traders to produce food for eligible low-income families and other agencies such as the School Lunch Program that safeguard health and well-being...... middle of paper . .....p: //www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htmDolgoff, R. & Feldstein, D. (2003). Understanding social well-being (7th ed). New York, Allen & BaconDepartment of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/FOODSTAMPS/default.htmLanders, P. S. (2007). The Food Stamp Program: History, Nutrition, Education, and Impact. American Dietetic Association. 107(11) 1945-1951. doi: 10'1016/j.jada.2007.08.009DiNitto, D. (2010). Social welfare policies and public policies. Boston, MA: Pearson education. National Association of Social Workers (2008). Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved January 31, 2010, from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/Code/code.aspFlorida Food Stamp Program. Retrieve from http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal?_nfpb=true&quic...