In this 1934 article by Ruth Steward an effort was made to inform the readers as to just what was provided to those who signed up for public relief programs:
"Once a week paterfamilias rouses himself to go down to the commissary and bring home the bacon. Bacon, yes, and all the food he can carry: meat, vegetables, canned goods, fruits, pickles, flour, coffee, cocoa...Persons on relief are also, depending on circumstances, furnished with shoes and clothing paid for by the county at a scale of standard prices and specifications as agreed upon by the local merchants."
Some public relief programs created jobs for the benefit subscribers...
