Andrea, mother of five, runs a popular blog entitled “True Stories of a Midwest Yankee.” One of her recent posts about an experience at a grocery store is gaining a lot of notoriety as it moves hearts across the nation. You will have to read it for yourself and you will see why…
Dearest Lady Who Was Standing Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store,
I know we are perfect strangers. You have no idea what my experience has been for the past year. You have no idea that my family has really faced crazy trials. We have faced incredible challenges – we have been embarrassed, humiliated and desperate.
You have no idea that I balled my eyes out more days than not; that I battle bitternes taking over my heart. My husband’s pride is shattered – my kids have been carrying pressures well beyond their years on their own shoulders, snatching from them their own innocence. You have no idea any of this has been going on.
What you do know is that the EBT machine was down so I could not purchase the food I needed to for my kids. I did not have any cash or my debit card. All I had has was my SNAP card and me saying, “No, don’t hold it for me. My kids are hungry now and I have no other way of paying for this.” Rather than judge me or label me as irresponsible, you did not retort, “Maybe you should have less kids.” And you did not say, “Get a job and learn to support yourself.” You did not turn away in embarrassment or give me a shameful glare. You made no assumptions of me.
Instead, what you did was pay the $17.38 bill on our behalf. My kids received bananas, yogurt, apple juice and cheese sticks. For me, I got a peach ice tea – a rare treat. I hugged you and promised to pay it forward – that I would pay someone else’s grocery bill for them, just as you did for me. The $17.38 might not be a lot for you, but meant the world to us. My kids kept saying you were an “angel in disguise” on the way home. They kept praying for you – that you would be blessed. Your actions restored some of our forgotten faith – your actions changed our lives. You might have forgotten us by now, but we sure have not forgotten you. You will alwys be a part of us – even though we don’t even know your name.
I do struggle with the idea that we have to rely on the government SNAP program – it is a source of embarrassment for me and for us. I don’t tell people we are on SNAP as I fear they will judge us.
My husband was laid off after 17 years of work as a manager. The company knew we would be homeless as the house came with the job he lost. Only those closest to use know that he works part-time while looking for more work. He has submitted more job applications than he has received interviews. All of them are part-time. It is impossible to support a family of 6 on a part-time job.
You had no idea about any of this but that did not stop you from your compassion and generosity toward someone you did not know.
You have no idea how much we appreciate you and the impact you had on me and my family. We are incredibly thankful – we cannot thank you enough.
Thank you for not playing judge. Thank you for you feeding my kids when they were hungry. Thank You.
Forever,
Andrea, the gal in front of you at the grocery store with a family who is no longer hungry.
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