TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Rinna Johnson, 35, majored in liberal studies in college, got a master's degree in education and is about to receive her teaching credential.

She's not exactly your stereotypical food stamp recipient.

But Johnson is one of a growing number of Americans who have turned to food stamps for the first time amid a troubled economy.

"I tried so hard to make it work," said Johnson, a single mother of three. "Without it, I don't know what we would have done."

As the number of people receiving government aid nationwide climbs, the demographics of the recipients are changing, too.

The federal government says that last year, 45 million people -- about 15 percent of the U.S. population -- used food stamps, some of whom, like Johnson, never imagined they'd one day rely on government support.

In Kern County, the total number of participants in CalFresh, or food stamps, soared from 35,324 in November 2008 to 54,708 last November, according to the Department of Human Services.

But perhaps even more telling is the number of people joining the program who have never before used government aid. In Kern County, the number of new participants in CalFresh climbed by 83 percent from 1,122 in November of 2008 to 2,055 three years later.

"These are families who have obviously been working and making enough money to support their families," said Pat Cheadle, the county's director of human services. "Many have recently been laid off, gone though all of their savings and are still unable to find a job."

OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES

The growing number of food stamp recipients has emerged as a big issue on the presidential campaign trail, with criticism building of its record levels during President Barack Obama's term.

Those critics point to Obama's expansion of the program in the 2009 stimulus bill while others argue the economic downturn triggered the growth.

People's judgmental attitudes toward those on aid -- that they're people who don't want to work, take advantage of the system, have too many babies -- sting, especially for people who were once middle class and now must rely on public assistance, Cheadle said.

Clients tell agency workers about their struggles to deal with the stigma.

One woman was paying with her Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, card at the grocery cashier counter when the person behind her started making comments.

As she stood there with her daughter, she overhead the person say, "Look at what they're buying on taxpayer dollars," and "People that are able to work should be working."

In that case, Cheadle said, the woman had fled a domestic violence situation, and was using the aid to get her life back.

"This was another person who had never had to apply for benefits before," Cheadle said. "She just cried. She felt really bad."

A NOTICEABLE SHIFT

Other Kern County agencies are also noticing the shifting demographics of aid recipients.

Officials from Women, Infants and Children, an organization that provides nutritious foods for pregnant woman and young children, said they're seeing more students, working parents and recipients with some college education among their clientele. They've seen military members who have come back from Iraq, and medical residents.

"We talk about this with our outreach and marketing," said Michelle Turner, a marketing specialist/WIC liaison. "We're trying to address people who have never navigated social services before."

In Kern County, a family of four making $41,348 or less annually qualifies for WIC.

"That's a lot of people in our county," Turner said. "A loss of income is a loss of income. It doesn't matter what kind of mortgage you used to have."

JOHNSON'S STORY

After college, Johnson got married and started a family in the Riverside area. While raising her three kids, now age 5, 11 and 14, she worked as a substitute teacher. But, after a divorce left her with little support, she moved to Bakersfield where her mother was living.

To make ends meet, she substituted at the Kern High School District and waited tables at the Olive Garden -- all while pursuing her master's degree and teaching credential.

"I have a college degree and here I am waiting tables," she said. "It was very humbling. But what else could I do?"

The bills for car insurance, the car itself, rent, food and clothes added up. Johnson started stopping by the food bank to supplement her family's meals.

"I couldn't sleep I was so stressed out," she said. "It's one thing when it's just yourself, but with kids, you feel responsible."

A family member suggested she look into food stamps, but she wasn't sure how it even worked. At one point, she called the county's Human Services Department in tears, saying she had three kids who needed to eat.

Using the EBT card made a big difference because Johnson could buy fresh fruits and vegetables instead of feeding her family canned goods from the food bank. When her kids ask her to go to McDonald's, she'll tells them they don't have the money, but she can buy them some chicken at the grocery store with the food stamps.

One night while they were eating dinner, her 11 year old surprised her by commenting on how fortunate they were to have food stamps. Johnson said her family is close, and her children are always appreciative of what they have.

"I've learned how to live on nothing and still be happy," she said. "I feel so lucky and blessed my kids aren't spoiled."

Johnson is optimistic about her future, especially now that she'll be receiving her teaching credential. She'll attend a job fair this spring in the hopes of finding a full-time teaching job in the next school year.

"Even though it was a struggle, I have hope for the future," she said. "Because of these programs, I can improve myself and have a better job instead of being stuck."