They kept the gummint cheese a-rollin' long after foodstamps commenced. And, I knew some seniors that would score an entire wheel. That cheddar was better than any you could buy at the grocery store. I don't know if the ever discontinued the additional "commodities".

It seems that they ("commodities") now go to those that don't qualify for food stamps, unless they're getting WIC (women, infants, and children). Those forty-two million (at least in 2016) that qualify for SNAP, except with overruns, aren't eligible for them. However, over half a million people do get them. By the .gov website, if you're over sixty ... it's not too difficult to qualify. The items are as follows:

•Cheese and dairy products
•Canned fruits and vegetables
•Peanut butter, dried beans, jelly
•Canned fish and various meats
•Evaporated and nonfat dry milk
•Breakfast cereals
•Fruit juices and beverages
•Rice, macaroni, spaghetti

Maybe this is something that we old farts should look into.