Since my wife passed, I find that living on half income to be extremely hard.   So hard in fact, that I've had to resort to going to a couple food pantry's, to make up for what EBT and my income won't afford.  It's been embarrassing to me, since I was able to always provide, either for myself, or my family.  However at 77 years old, finding work at what I'm qualified to do, is impossible. Trucking companies do not want the responsibility of putting an old man behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound vehicle.

  But that isn't what this is about.  It's about overhearing conversations while standing in line at the food pantries.  For me, though embarrassing, those lines help me make it from week to week. And, I only take just what I need to get through. Never more than I need. And believe me, I more than appreciate what those charities provide.  

  I've sort of become a regular at two of them. And I've found that there are other regulars. But there is a bit of a difference. I hear some of these folks talking about how they hit 5 and 6 food pantry's a week, and often go through the line two and three times.  What I find disturbing is that listening to some of these folks I hear that there is only them or one other in the family, and they take enough for three or four families. And by the end of that week, what they don't use gets thrown away, and they refill the next week.

  I'm sure that there are needy people, just like me, and would make good use of the gifts these charities provide. But those that take more than they need and throw away the unused, irks me. I even heard one person that they sell some of what they take. How wrong is that?  I understand need, all too well. But, greed is not something I've ever been able to understand or reconcile.

  For those using EBT, the Government should give them a list of charities that will supplement the minimal food stamps the government gives out.  The best example I have is that my income since my wife passed is just over $1,000 a month. Half of that goes to my mortgage, then there's water, and electric and the insurances I have to keep to be safe at home or in my car.  If I wanted TC, I'd be totally broke by the 10th of every month.  That would leave me with no gas to get to those pantries that help me survive.

  I just wanted to point out how some of the systems designed to help those in need are taken advantage of by those that don't really need at all.  Especially when they talk about eating out almost every day.  I haven't eaten anything but what I have in my larder.  I haven't tasted a pizza in 15 months, or had a McDonald’s hamburger in that same period.  But what I do have, I share equally with my dog.  

Richard Arveaux

Smithville, TN