I was humiliated at a Frys food store at two different occasions this week because I used WIC vouchers to pay for my groceries and my SNAP food card. The first incident was upsetting and the second had me in tears as I left the store. The cashier knew that I recently started using an Arizona SNAP card and has never been friendly to me to begin with. On this occasion she rang up my groceries and I handed her a few coupons around 5 dollars worth. She sneered at me with this superior look and told me I had to pay the taxes in cash on those coupons. I told her I knew this I paid and left the store. Against my better judgment I returned to the store and this time made it a priority to checkout with a different cashier. I used my WIC vouchers for formula for my baby and the cashier asked for my frys VIP card which I did not have with me. The cashier was a new trainee and had another more experienced cashier looking over her shoulder. I waived away my need for a VIP card the older cashier ignored me and told the young girl to make me fill out an application for a new one because they (the cashiers, taxpayers) were technically paying for my groceries. I refused to fill out the application and the nice lady behind me let me use hers. At this point several people are staring at us and humiliated, I left the store in tears.
I am already humiliated that I have to use public assistance to feed my child and my disabled Iraq war veteran husband. I am not a lazy person and have always worked and continue to work I just dont make enough money anymore. I had to take a demotion at work to help my husband recover from his injury obtained while he was fighting for our country. We have never needed any kind of government assistance but this injury and the birth of our first child came at roughly the same time and I had to swallow my pride and apply for these programs to be able to feed us. I dont ask for much from these cashiers just respect. I am a customer no matter who is paying for the groceries and I hope they are never in my situation because it is not a pretty place to be. I also hope my husband gets better so he can work again and maybe we will get treated like real customers. Although, I am very grateful, I don't feel I have to choose between feeding my family and being humiliated and while I do not think I am entitled to food I do feel I am entitled to respect and dignity.
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