What was the rationale behind the US government agriculture commodity program? My grandparents talked nostalgically about receiving direct food assistance from the government (canned meat, butter, rice, flour, cheese, peanut butter, off the top of my head). Why was it discontinued?
Can you clarify the date and area you're talking about? U.S. social safety net programs vary hugely depending on time and place. (Even at present, food aid programs like SNAP are administered quite differently from state to state.)