Missouri is a leader among states in getting food on the table for residents who qualify for food stamps. The Department of Social Services says making the application process easily accessible and user friendly has a lot to do with that.

More than 850,000 Missourians participate in the state’s food stamps program, about one in seven people.

Department of Social Services spokesman Scott Rowson says Missouri does better than most states in getting food on the table for those who need it. He says accessability and a quick turnaround helps make the program so successful.

According to 2005 census numbers, the greatest percentage of food stamp users live in Southeast Missouri, where more than 75 percent of residents qualify for assistance.

Rowson says the department strives make all assistance programs accessible online and easy to apply for. He says as unemployment rises, more people become elegible for assistance, lending to the importance of getting people the help they need quickly and efficiently.

To view the department’s caseload statistics, visit www.dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/history.htm

View Missouri hunger statistics at http://missourifamilies.org/mohungeratlas/performanceindicators.pdf

Jessica Machetta reports [1:27]