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It's best to do for one's self. but as the federal government sees it, mountain pride is a problem. you see, the government tries to trap how many people in an area are eligible for food stamps, and how many have signed up for benefits. when a place like ashe county stands out with an unexpectedly high number of residents refusing food stamps, a network of social service types from local, state, and federal governments, nonprofits too, springs into action. >> this money is out there. if you're not taking it, there's something wrong with you. that's correct. >> reporter: jeff sessions, republic...

Government. what's wrong with needy folks, poor folks getting their share of government cheese? >> there is nothing wrong with poor people who need help getting help. >> we can always help those who needed help. it has been through the churches and organizations. it all falls through the cracks. these people cannot get food and they needed to feed their children. i think the government should help them. >> you give them money, if it's a question of money and benefits, you can diminish and dull their incentive to work and achieve and rise above difficult circumstances. i think there is a real m...

>> what kind of folks did this land produce? >> they were fiercely independent and strong in self reliance. >> he is a retired engineer. >> they made do or do without. >> for countless generation, the people made do by growing tobacco. raising cattle on small family ranches and producing lumber from the vast forests that still surround them. >> what do they do when hard times came? >> my daddy got a job logging. >> doug lewis is a retired saw miller. >> he got the boards and he could be giving up, but he didn't do that. the mountain pride took over. >> we heard a lot about the thing called mou...

Mountain pride. >> here's what happened. a local social services worker partly funded by a grant said while folks value that, they would accept it to buy seeds they can plant in their gardens. that proved to be the opening everyone was looking for. in just a year, according to the government, food stamp participation jumped 10% in ash county and that was just the beginning. folks became more open to other forms of government aid as well. social worker brandy earned her a trip to the annual american association of snap directions convention where she received the gold hunger champions award fro...

So what's going on with needy folks accident poor foels getting their share of government cheese? >> there's nothing wrong with poor people who need help getting help. ♪ >> we have always -- it's been through the churches and through organizations. if it all falls through the cracks, then these people cannot get food, and they need it to feed their children, i think the government should help them. >> if you just give them money and if it's just a question of money and benefits, then you can diminish and dull their incentive to work and achieve and to rise above difficult circumstances. i th...