Disgusting situation at the grocery store today

[Claudia1]

I was ready to check out and the family in front of me had put their juice, milk, eggs, cheese, and other good foods on the belt. They also had 3 12-packs of pop. It was a family of a 20-ish mom & dad, plus a cute little toddler girl.

When they began to check out, the cashier told them that their WIC coupons were not valid. After a quick conversation, they put back all but one carton of milk, a package of ham, and the 3 12-packs of pop. The mom was quite vocal about not being able to feed her daughter because the WIC coupons were not written properly but they used what little money they had to buy pop. They even talked about not having any food at home. The eggs, cheese, juice, more milk, etc.... want back on the grocery shelves.

So sad and so disgusting. The money for the pop could have been used for some good food.

 

[anewvance]

Isn't that sad? I've seen situations like this a few times before... you just want ot yell at them, priorities people!

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[Madi100]

Try working in a grocery store. That is what I did in high school, and we had customers that purchased steak and hamburger for their pets to eat, because you can get that with food stamps. In Illinois you can use your food stamp card at McDonalds. I've also seen people sell their WIC items for cash, so they can get money for cigarettes. I've seen people send their kids in with a $1 food stamps, so they can save up the change for cigarettes.

 

[theprincess]

Its a sad world out there!!

 

[Nancy]

Yeah WIC checks are fun. I get tired of explaining that they can't certain types of cereal, that they have to get all the items, even if they don't want them, etc. We now get WIC checks that are good for $5.00 worth of feesh, frozen or canned veggies or fruits. I had a woman flipping our because she couldn't get the frozen veggies with cheese sauce on them...I just follow the rules, I don't make them. I had a man yelling at me because he couldn't get farmers cheese and he gets it "all the time" with his checks. Farmers cheese is NOT in the list of allowable cheese. I told him my job is to folllow the correct procedures and policies. He told me that my job must be to make Wegmans rich. How me not allowing him his free food makes the store rich I still haven't figured out.

Food stamps don't bother me all that much, but I wish they could get personal care items (shampoo, soap, deoderant) instead of junk food with them...things that are the basic necessities of life. Gum is not a food, but they can buy it with foodstamps. At least in NY State they can not get hot foods or eat in rest. food with the foodstamp card.

 

[Michelle2]

I have no idea about these people's situation...and I wasn't there. But I thought maybe a reason that they just bought the pop with the money they had is because they were going to go back to the WIC office to get coupons to replace the invalid ones? Maybe since they just found out their vouchers were invalid, they thought they would go and inquire at the office (or call) to get replacements??? Maybe they knew they had to wait until the next day...So might as well buy the pop while they were there? I don't know, just thinking it might be a different scenario.

 

[Nancy]

That's true Michelle2...what made them invalid? Was it the dates? Maybe they weren't good until tomorrow, or maybe they expired yesterday? But I think what was upsetting was that they were talking about how they had no food, but bought pop and not milk.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

You can also use food stamps to get fancy bakery made birthday cakes, easter baskets full of candy, any type of steaks - even t-bones or filet mignon, gourmet cheeses, etc... If I was in such a desperate situation that I had to use food stamps I would stretch that money to feed my family with veggies, rice, chicken, etc... not waste it like I see so many people do around here. Not everyone abuses the system but unfortunately too many do.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I wish they would completely overhaul the food stamps and the wic programs so families would be forced to buy good, nutricious food and personal hygiene products.

I've seen people buy those cases of ramen noodles because they sold their cards to buy liquor and cigarettes.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I was working in a store once and someone wanted to use food stamps to by a drink mixer. It was coded as alcohol and could not be purchased. They were NOT happy. Well dude--get over it, we ain't selling it to ya!

WIC does force them to buy more "whole" type foods--the cheese must be real (IIRC, no Kraft singles, no cheese whiz)--and the veggies can't be all dripping with junk.

Food stamps aren't to be used for prepared foods--so how any are getting bakery items is beyond me.


For the most part I never had trouble with WIC checks--it was those crazy food stamps!

 

[JennyMominRI]

Food stamps aren't to be used for prepared foods--so how any are getting bakery items is beyond me.


!

That depends on the state..

 

[Planogirl]

Milk is a lot more expensive than soft drinks. Maybe they wanted something to drink besides water that would go a lot further than milk. I would have gone for tea myself though.

 

[MinnyGranny62]

I just don't understand the reasoning in this. If you have children then take care of them.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That depends on the state..

Okay--in Florida--no prepared items. I guess our food stamp program has its positives.

 

[FreshTressa]

So sad!!

 

[Dax]

No its easier to have more children, and then get on WIC and food stamps and allow the government and the hardworking folks pay for it all.

I worked in a grocery store too. I hated it. It drives me nuts to this day being in line with people who have food stamp cards, and have better food on the belt than I do sometimes. Then they whip out a wad of bill to pay for the items that the food stamp card wouldnt pay for.

Ok..better be hush before I say something I shouldnt

 

[Brutie]

I worked in the grocery store business for 20 years before I moved and believe me I have seen it all and then some. One of our most frequent food stamp users was this man who pulled up late at night in a new (at the time) white cadillac pretty much dressed like a pimp, using his food stamps to get his food...just made me sick...


guess he used all his money to buy those pretty hats with the feather plumes...LOL

That said, being in their 20's I'd say they have no idea how to budget money and the cute little toddler girl might not of been expected so soon and they werent prepared as parents to budget for a baby and themselves too. I do think getting the soft drinks was a mistake, koolaid is much cheaper and like someone else said so is tea. In my state WIC vouchers do have dates on them and if its earlier than the voucher says you cant use it. If its later than the voucher says you cant use it either.

Thats all I have to say about that...

 

[diznygirl]

I have no idea about these people's situation...and I wasn't there. But I thought maybe a reason that they just bought the pop with the money they had is because they were going to go back to the WIC office to get coupons to replace the invalid ones? Maybe since they just found out their vouchers were invalid, they thought they would go and inquire at the office (or call) to get replacements??? Maybe they knew they had to wait until the next day...So might as well buy the pop while they were there? I don't know, just thinking it might be a different scenario.

I was thinking this too.

 

[Nancy]

Food stamps aren't to be used for prepared foods--so how any are getting bakery items is beyond me.


!

Food stamp rules in NY State:

It is intended for human consumption
It produces food for human consumption (food plants and seeds)
It is NOT hot food
It is NOT alcohol
It is NOT medicine or vitamins

That pretty much covers it, so they can buy cakes, party trays, alcohol drink mixes, subs, etc. They can't buy hot cooked foods, beer or alcohol or energy drinks like Red Bull.