More than 35 million Americans received food stamps in June 2009, that's up 22 percent from June 2008 and a new record. The food stamp program, designed to help cover the cost of groceries for one in nine Americans, has grown in proportion with the U.S. unemployment rate which stood at 9.4 percent in July.
The Labor Department will release August employment figures on Friday.
June was the seventh straight month in which food stamp rolls set a record.
The average benefit in June was $133.12 per person.
