We Listened. We Learned.

We keep just getting told that things are just the way they are because of policies and it's just the way it is. And I'm sitting here like, "But can't policies change because weren’t they written by people?" "Can't we make this better"?

The policies are being made by the higher ups, the community may not have as much involvement as needed and its just they assess what they think we need, and then they just kind of go from there. And so these policies end up in place. These criteria end up in place. But you know, it's not actually working.

I just really hope that by you guys doing this, like, somebody is really going to listen to it and try to figure it out, and try to fix the system.

WIC... they understand exactly what you're going through. They've been there they've done it, they understand it, and they're not looking down on you.

I purposely use a self checkout lane if I use any type of government assistance because just the looks you get are just kind of insane to me.

[Food from school during COVID-19] just helped out. Everybody was friendly, there was no judgment there whatsoever, and I just felt like it brought the community together.

Not all of your families are able to make it to a food pantry between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. You need something that's outside the normal nine to five.

We make $200 over the limit and still struggle to make ends meet with groceries. Sometimes our diet consists of hot dogs and Mac n cheese. I want my kids to eat healthier but towards the middle end of the month we cannot afford groceries after paying bills

Every 6 months we have a review [for SNAP eligibility] and for some reason it never goes thru and we end up losing them [benefits] for a month.

The application process [for SNAP] was extremely difficult. I had to apply six or seven different times before I was even approved.  I only make 13 bucks an hour and I only get $23 a month of food stamps.

Covid was a big wake up call that showed us how quickly food insecurity can creep up on otherwise secure families. So many of us are just one or two strokes of bad luck away from homelessness and hunger.

I don't know that my kids realize sometimes the struggle that we have had, but I've literally had moments where I cried because I didn't know what I was going to feed my kids the next day. 

My caseworker knew we were fleeing from domestic violence and my exit plan. I don't understand how I was taken off of [SNAP].

If I ask for food stamps they will take away my residency or they will charge me when I'm older.

Stop cutting the budget for a child who gets a job for the summer, a few weeks or months. Children don't pay rent or bills.