That sucks, that stuff’s not cheap even if you buy the cheapest brands, and like you say, it’s pretty necessary if you want to be presentable & clean enough to get a job.
Back in the day, my first job out of college was providing job search assistance to Soviet refugees. Many of them were quite well-educated, and would have been quite employable (admittedly with the significant barriers of language, the then-current recession, etc.) but they had…different hygiene standards. (Soap and laundry detergent were rationed in the Soviet Union at the time.) One of my co-workers had the fabulous idea of making a pitch to Walgreens, who donated TONS (as in a couple thousand) of samples of soap, deodorant, laundry detergent, etc., which we made up into little gift bags, with an in-house brochure on cultural differences in hygiene standards.
Some nonprofit out there must be doing something similar, and if not, they should. It was a big help to our clients.
Where I work (for a children’s hospital) we do the same thing for parents in need, especially those who are from out of town & are staying in different places all the time, to be with their kids. We also have food vouchers & other types of assistance, but the hygeine items always get picked up really fast, since it’s one of those things they can’t get as much help with from other places.
Of course, it’s not available to everyone, only for parents & families of patients, but I agree, there should be an organization doing that for a more general group, including those job-hunting.
The food closet I donate to is always asking for little soaps, bottles of shampoo and toothpaste. I’ve always assumed it’s because you can’t buy that stuff with food stamps (I’m in California) and those items are really expensive.
If your clients use a food closet, can they ask for specific items?
Well, at least no one’s said “no” to my above idea yet.
(Or that I’m full of shit! ;))
Which brings to mind this witty bit of dialogue from “Dumb and Dumber”:
Lloyd: I want to ask you a question… straight out, flat out… and I want you to give me an honest answer. What do you think the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me… ending up together?
Mary: Well Lloyd… that’s difficult to say… you really don’t…
Lloyd: Hit me! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: [Gulps] You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I’d say more like… one out of a million.
Lloyd: So you’re telling me there’s a chance. Yeah!
Just a bit of levity, y’all! 
Q
I last worked there in 1991, so I have absolutely no idea what the current situation is.
One bright side is that you can do killer sales/coupon deals on toiletries and such, which aren’t as easy to find for basic fresh foods. I regularly get soap, body wash, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, razors etc for 75% off by watching the sales and coupons, but it’s hard to save substantially on sugar or celery or chicken.
Sure, it takes time to work the deals, but they are at least out there.
Go during the day when the teens are in school, and you won’t see one teenager working there! Everyone is an adult! Don’t teenagers need money too? 
Last night I went to a local market and used the self-checkout. It announces everything you do, the name of every item you scan, any coupons you have, and so on. I swiped my debit card and it announced “debit card swiped” and the woman behind me in line grabbed her daughter and started to go to another line. The daughter frowned and said “but we’re next!” The mother frowned and said “It’s going to announce how we’re paying!” and took off. My guess was that she didn’t want people around to hear if the machine said “EBT card swiped” or whatever it might say. I felt a pang in my chest over that.
Yes, that is horrible. Trying to buy your basic foodstuffs with little money, and/or on a card that makes it clear that you are on welfare benefits, will be a sufficiently unhappy experience, without the chance of a local busybody know-all making a nasty comment. And, in that case, the mother might have been entirely worried enough about it all, and might have wished to spare her child the potential embarrassment/annoyance.
Gah! Just having it name everything you buy! I mean, you may not think about it when you’re selecting your items, but do you really want the entire world to know you’re buying peanut butter, condoms, and motor oil? Or both kaopectate and laxatives? There are just so many combinations that, blared by an uncaring machine, could make you blush.
Of course, if all the check out did announce everything maybe we’d all know how common using food stamps is, and perhaps that would remove some stigma. Or maybe not.
Anyhow - at my local store the self-serve just says “put item in bag” after you scan it, it doesn’t announce your purchase. Thank Og. And it just says “payment complete” without specifying details. Again, thank Og.
Self-checkouts that do that do it for everybody, regardless of how you’re paying. Yet another reason why I don’t like self-checkouts.
I think my self-checkout announces the prices, like “1.79” (in that weird female electronic voice), but it doesn’t announce what it was that cost $1.79 (like Campbell’s soup or whatever). And I’m fairly certain it doesn’t announce your payment method or final total - instead, there’s the tally and directions on the monitor thingie.
I work at a grocery store in Louisiana, and I have noticed that where before, only baby formula was covered by WIC checks, now baby food can be bought (31 jars/month in my state) with WIC checks. That used to be only purchasable with a food stamp card. In addition, a small amount of fruits and vegetables can be bought (6 or 8 dollars worth). Obviously, this would mean that more money was put into the WIC program very recently. Sorry of that rambles a bit, but I am curious:
- Did you experience an increase in food stamps just like the wic program increased its benefits? (did both related programs increase?)
- Does it irritate you when people say “food stamps” rather than “ebt”?
- Does your card have a really cheesy name? In Louisiana, the food stamp cards are called “Louisiana Purchase” cards. Which is funny for about 2 seconds until you groan at the bad pun…lol Neighboring states have equally goofy names, if memory serves me right.
*FWIW: WIC - women, infants, children. Basically checks to pay for formula and a few very basic groceries like milk and cheese.
Yes, I believe so… but I’ve only been on the program since December, and the increase occurred before then. I think it was $42 more a month maximum for the food benefit.
Nope. It only irritates me when people get hung up over the name and start insisting it’s one or the other to the point of hostility. (Technically, it’s neither - it’s SNAP, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program)
“Hoosier Works Card” Dunno if you’d consider that cheesy or not.
Just a heads up, though it’s random - if you have a Super Target near you, at checkout you sometimes get fresh veggie coupons printed out at the exit. I got corn one week and califlour the nect. On somethings their prices are higher, though.
I like coupons - if it is on sale and doubled or tripled - even better - I am a very savvy shopper that way - I can make a penny go a long long way. Personally I don’t have a computer printer - so can’t print online coupons - nor can I afford to subscribe to the paper - but never the less - I do find some excellent coupons. By the way my tiny town library has ancient computers - 1 ancient printer - and no software to print coupons. So out of that option as well. I also know how to shop around the sales and stock up on nonperishables. I look online and plan what to buy and where. I know which store has the best deals. I consolidate my trips in a way to save gas and get it all done in 1 day every 2 weeks or month. I know how to buy healthy foods that are quick to prepare - because I cannot afford a high utility bill. I have been doing this for years and years.
Well in my county the Impact program is very disorganized - we are supposed to get a 30 hour a week job with benefits - which everyone in the county I have talked to laughs about - cause the economy sucks as we know.
No one on one caseworker - try 6 running in and out of a large room all arguing about the rules with 30 then up to 40 people (about 10 to 12 straggling in late all points in the meeting). None of the caseworkers knew the rules or what to tell people to do.
Just send us to the employment office - which we have already been to and sent back to them.
They lose our documents.
People who are working 25 hours are told to be job searching 20 hours a week - but the employment office is only open the hours they work - and you can’t job search on your home computer. Documents must be signed at each place you go to - and most people are refusing to sign them - we must have business cards from the people and documents - but no one will give us any - we are to do walk ins - go to kiosks - which don’t work and into offices that don’t want us there - and demand them to sign our forms - and then demand a job application - then demand they sign when we leave - then demand a copy of our application. Now keep in mind that the local FSSA offices has a 400% increase in clients - who are all going to these places (small town) - and the employers are getting angry. And no one has a job anyway - they don’t want people walking in asking about a job.
We have to turn in the documents on Monday in person to the FSSA between 8 am and noon - many of the clients do work those hours already - and were told they have to ask off from their jobs to bring them in.
Some clients were only getting 20 dollars a month in stamps - they don’t feel they can make their current employer angry and said they wouldn’t be able to fullfill the requirements.
The caseworkers said no temp jobs or parttime jobs - must be 30 a week with benefits - which are not here within a 150 mile radius.
All the clients in my room were snap only - no tanf - who have more relaxed requirements.
One guy said he was at 28 hours a week and on call the other hours - so how was he to be on a job search at the employment office or go to business that are only open during the day.
Caseworker said they have a right to call our employers and have a talk with them - now I ask you - how long is an employer going to put up with caseworkers calling them and talking to them like that?
Apparently my county is far far different from broomsticks.
Trust me if any of us could get a job like that we would be happy to do so - cause it would be far easier than the stuff they are putting us through.
And there were many people there like me who have never had to go through this and just don’t know how they think there are full time jobs with benefits in this economy.
Now I know the caseworker was going to get some of the youngsters to apply for the millitary.
But the majority of the people in there were far too old for the military - many people even seemed disabled - crutches, surgical scars on their shaved heads, strokes or brain injuries.
None of the caseworkers could give the same answer - they were not communicating to each other at all.
Jesus! That sounds like you’d be better off standing on a street corner with a “Will Work For Food” Sign!
What a psychological toll that must be on you!
Q
WHen i jacked up my knee i had to leave the life of doughnuts and sirens and I became a case worker in the great state of Misery… oops Missouri…
I was a case worker who handled food stamps and medicare… what struck me first was that we were not allowed to schedule meetings with our clients… and we couldn’t at that time have voice mail on our phones… THAT was annoying…
What i also remember was a very interesting fact… i had about 45 foreign nationals in my caseload and ironically enough. every single one of them was born on Jan 1… what are the odds on that maestro??
I can’t remember the cards… in georgia its the georgia peach cards… the rules are interesting. for example u can’t go to the fresh food section and say order chicken or veggies or something prepared… but if the prepare it and place it out then u can buy it with your benefits… I think most of my co-workers today have no idea what the program really entails and how much people really need it…
I am in a situation of working part time (never know my hours) getting partial unemployment(they have rules completely different from fssa) and getting snap to pay for food - hence their rules - which means if an employer does call me for a job interview - I won’t be at home to accept the call - because we can’t use our home phone or internet at home to seek employment. There is 1 phone at the FSSA office and 2 computers for an entire county! The local library has ancient computers and a 1 or 2 hour limit on them and 1 old printer and reduced hours due to the economy. The employment office is a whole other issue and quite the joke.
Ironically I have a great deal of training in social services - but will they hire me? No they hire someone who is clueless about the programs and how it works.
Of course they have huge caseloads and are overwhelmed and have little to no training.
But why do they have to be so disorganized and rude to the clients?
Why can’t all of them get together and communicate?