There are 28 million people in this country who wouldn't be able to put food on the table each month without the help of the federal government, and as the current economic crisis continues, that number is rising. These families rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which was historically known as the Food Stamp Program, for help. For many families, food stamps are essential and sometimes, they're not enough. The very first food assistance programs began during the Depression era.