10/28/2025
I just came across this story and it should make some people think!
ERASING THE STIGMA OF (SNAP) FOOD STAMPS
This is a very vulnerable post for us.
Hank and Kate here. Time to have an open discussion with our full audience about government assistance.
There are times when you need it. You don't plan on it. It just sorta happens.
Hank here first: 2012. I'm the Regional Manager for floor and window cleaning operations for Family Dollar and Dollar General across this portion of the Northeast US. Boss calls me in and says that I am being laid off because they are experiencing financial issues and I am the highest paid employee. 1 month before Christmas. Okay. No idea what I am doing, but I head in to file for unemployment.
We are given some help. We get this blue card in the mail. It is loaded with X amount of dollars. I go to shop at Acme and go to use it. I hide it. I am embarrassed. I am a man that is unable to provide for his family. I scan the food, push in the pin number, and walk out with what I consider "free" food. At that exact moment in time, I dedicate the rest of my life to helping people that are in need.
Fast forward to 2017. We close down a company that is failing on what turned out to be a bad business decision. In addition, the day job lays me off. Once again, we get sent a blue card.
Fast forward to 2020. March. The world stops moving. Kate is considered an essential worker as an Acme team member. Our DJ business loses 48 weddings over a 2-year period.
48.
That means 48 brides either canceled or moved their wedding date to a future year. What does that mean? That means that we had to split or defer our income for 2 years.
But hey, here is a government SBA Disaster Loan that you will have to pay back, but it gives you some cash to function. Most of which went to refunding wedding cancelations.
Stop putting a stigma on folks that need help. You literally have NO idea what they are going through.