A petition supported by Idaho grocers seeks to stagger the distribution of food stamp benefits — a request grocers have made before. Supporters include the Northwest Grocers Association and WinCo Foods.

The grocers complained to state lawmakers earlier this year, saying they’ve been swamped by food-stamp recipients on the first day of every month. More than 230,000 Idahoans receive food stamps. Grocers say the long lines, sometimes in the wee morning hours, have caused some people to abandon their carts in the aisles, forcing food to go to waste.

A bill passed the Idaho House with a 55-12 vote in March, but didn’t get a hearing in the Senate.

A coalition of volunteers with the Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger and other community organizations stationed themselves at grocery stores in southwestern Idaho over the weekend and collected signatures.

The Associated Press