Last year, I wrote about food stamps. I was a Food Stamp Mom. It was a changing moment for me. I talked about a topic I have personal experience with that isn’t necessarily heard about from “people like me” or so I was told. I am a white, middle-class American in North Dakota. I am a conservative, Christian, wife and mother. But I once was a single, college-student mother. I participated in the SNAP or commonly known as the food stamps program for a limited time in college. It was a program that helped my son and me, one that I have learned I should not have been shameful of utilizing.
By speaking out on food stamps, I learned a lot about people. I received an array of personal emails and messages. There were gripping stories of personal loss and need. I sat at my computer and cried reading some of them. I don’t know the loss and pain some have gone through, yet they opened their stories up to me. I received messages from a few farmers who know me through the agriculture industry who shared they had been on food stamps in the hard years of the 1980’s. One pointed out he had never had admitted that to even his children that he had needed help during that time. There were over one hundred positive, thankful messages in total I received.
But not all were happy messages. There were some pointed comments that were negative that stood out to me and have repeated through my head for the past year.
I received angry messages saying I was from a privileged family and didn’t understand “real” food stamp recipients. I didn’t know poverty. I didn’t know hunger. I could not understand truly what food stamps were and how people used them.
Then, I had one local man who I still consider a friend call me out in an open meeting, pointing his finger at me trying to make me feel shameful, saying no member of “this organization” should “live off the government”. Later in the year, I had an elected official comment to me in person that I seem to “gladly accept government handouts when they benefit your agenda” but “that you seem to be against government programs that don’t benefit your agenda”.
Wow. I struck a nerve. I should have kept writing on it. But at the time, one year ago, I felt stuck. The waters were muddy.
I was uneasy in replying to the negative messages and comments. I was working for an elected official’s office in state government. I didn’t want to upset the apple cart as I had enough tumultuous issues to deal with at work much less on my personal blog. So rather than keep writing about food stamps, I went dark on the topic. Silent.
But that silence is coming to an end. My five-year old daughter taught me this past weekend, I have to get back on the horse, take a hold of the reins and ride.
And that means, I have to share my voice. Even when the saddle doesn’t feel very comfortable.
I have never been against the food stamps program,, there is a need, My issues with it are….. I see way to many abusing it,, by not looking for work,, cleaning themselves up, so some one may consider hiring them, and not sitting and waiting to start at the TOP of the payroll, instead of getting a job, so that at least they are earning some income, rather then nothing. or work two and three jobs,, others are doing it too, I too, have seen people buying all ready made foods, instead of purchasing flour, ground beef,, and potatoes , pasta products, and sauce, to fix nutritious meals, rather then all the pizza,, power aid,, and ready to heat and serve meals,, that way they can stretch the food dollar,, maybe they need classes to show them how to feed a family on less,, we all did it,, and still do.. just saying,, our life was not easy either,
Your comment shows incredible ingnorence. How many single moms or even two parent family’s can afford or find childcare so they work three jobs? I am sure you can stretch your food dollar, but I doubt a mom exhausted from working two jobs has time to cook a meal from scratch. It is much more likely that her children are making a pizza for themselves and younger siblings while she is at work.
It is painfully obvious you have never been in that situation.
Besides if you had to choose between taking a job that paid enough to make you loose your assistance but not enough to pay your bills and feed your family I can bet you would not be accepting that job either. Minimum wage is not the same as a living wage.
Two things to keep in mind:
First, not everyone grew up in a nurturing environment where they leaned how to make food from scratch. So they need some help. Yet one solution Congress continues to discuss is to keep SNAP, but throw out all the educational programs that go with it. Not smart.
Second, WIC (part of SNAP and likely the program Katie is most familiar with) specifies exactly what you can buy with those funds. I admittedly am not as familiar with other SNAP programs, but as a foster parent, I have become very familiar with WIC. Your card will not allow you to buy anything other than the pre-determined foods on your list–usually eggs, bread, milk, raw fruits and vegetables, cereal, peanut butter, select juices and, up until the child is 12-months-old, formula.
I’ve often hear people discuss what they’ve “seen people buy” with a Bridge card, but I encourage them to take a step back and learn about the program. It is difficult to maintain benefits. It is impossible to use the card for items that have not been pre-approved.
Keep writing about this, Katie. I’m eager to read along.
I am going to do a couple of upcoming blog posts around this topic. Be kind people. It’s a cruel world but not on this blog. Share your voice. Difference of opinions are welcomed but please be respectful.
I applaude you Katie for taking on this issue. I too was a food stamp mom back in the 80’s. I do think that there may be some loop holes in the program, but all In all we need to have it. The majority of food stamps goes to feed children. I also believe that there is a large share of the pot going to the administration side of it and I think that they could do some budget cutting there. Keep up the good work!
I don’t oppose the food stamp program but as one commented, I do oppose the abuse that is sometimes evident. I do believe there are some things that should be added to the list of food stamp eligible items. (Laundry detergent, soap, cleaning supplies, etc) I also believe there should be some restrictions on the allowed purchases. (pop, candy,etc.) I personally do not consider these items nutritious or necessary but a treat. Not everyone abuses the system and not every one chooses to be on the food stamp program. We all hit bumps in the road of life and if you need to find a way to feed your family because of one of those bumps, then you should be able to apply and get them. I can totally see in Katie’s situation, where it was a necessary benefit to feed her son and herself while still going to school and working. I do however have an issue with people on government assistance that fail to show any effort in getting themselves out of a difficult position. There should be something in place to help recipients work towards getting off of the program and be productive so we do not have generations of families on government programs consistantly. The program should not be geared so it discourages people to work because they will loose benefits, but should be geared so that the recipients can work and provide for their families and still recieve the benefit until you are able to feed your children. Many work limited hours so they do not loose the benefit and eventually it just becomes a way of life and then the cycle continues.