Everything He Could
Patrick Gibson worked hard to support his family. He believed life would get easier once he enlisted in the United States Army. However, it was challenging to leave his family for long periods. Still, he knew nothing was free.
Everything He Could
Making Do
Patrick and Whitney fell in love quickly and got married. Before he realized it, he was a father to a boy and a girl. However, the couple was dealing with hard times, and he was the only breadwinner.
Making Do
Feeding His Family
The couple knew they had to feed their children healthy foods, but that wasn’t all they had to deal with. There were many other expenses, such as car payments, diapers, toiletries, and gasoline. They couldn’t make ends meet!
Feeding His Family
Going Without
Patrick usually skipped breakfast every morning so that his family had enough to eat. They only had about $70 to spend on groceries, and there were four mouths to feed. Still, he was happy and promised to make it work.
Going Without
Grocery Shopping
One day, Patrick had money left from his paycheck and chose to go grocery shopping at Walmart. He walked the aisles, selecting the best buys and specials, calculating the bill in his head. Hopefully, he could buy a treat, heading to the grapes in the produce section.
Grocery Shopping
Treat for the Family
Patrick was desperate to treat his family, rewarding their patience. He had no problem spending all his money so that his children and wife were happy. Therefore, he picked at the red grapes and thought of purchasing some candy.
Treat For The Family
Getting Antsy
Walmart was way too full that day, and he was already tired of shopping. Children cried and screamed while their tired moms pushed them around. Plus, there were many rude people who kept hitting his heels with shopping carts.
Getting Antsy
Heading to the Checkout Lanes
Patrick knew it was time to get out of the store. Therefore, he pushed his small cart of groceries to the checkout lines, waiting to be served. However, he had no clue that action would ruin his day completely!
Heading To The Checkout Lanes
Catching His Attention
Something caught Patrick’s attention while he was determining if he could afford all the extras he wanted to buy. Another shopping cart was sitting there, but it was different than all the others. It made him envious.
Catching His Attention
Wistful
The line of shoppers moved forward slowly, and Patrick saw two carts piled up high with items. There was butter, steaks, cheese, bacon, lobster, shrimp, and much more. These luxury items were something he could never afford.
Wistful
Envious
He mumbled, “Must be nice,” under his breath while he watched the people unload their products onto the conveyor belt. It made him a little envious when he looked into his own cart. However, his next action would shock everyone.
Envious
Wait a Minute
The groceries were now totaled and packed, and he saw the screen indicating what they owed. It was $800! The man then pulled out his wallet, and Patrick saw that there were tons of $100 bills in there. However, the man reached for another thing.
Wait A Minute
Confusion
Patrick believed the other shopper might have gotten everything for the month. However, there were many luxury items in that cart. Therefore, he thought the guy should be doing well, but he pulled something strange out of his wallet.
Confusion
Cashier Looks at Patrick
The cashier also saw the $100 bills, exchanging looks with Patrick. He knew he wasn’t the only one who saw it. That man had chosen unusual and expensive items that the underpaid employee and he couldn’t afford.
Cashier Looks At Patrick
Credit Card
Patrick thought to himself that the man probably needed the cash for other expenses. In fact, he was sure the guy would pay the bill with a credit or debit card, which eased his nerves for some reason.
Credit Card
Patrick’s Wrong
He soon found out that he was very wrong to think the man would use a credit card. Initially, he felt bad for the guy, thinking he had been piling up the debt to give his family luxurious items. However, the man didn’t pull out a credit card from his wallet!
Patrick’s Wrong
Cashier’s Eyes Widen
The man handed a card to the cashier, and she looked surprised to see it. In fact, she gave Patrick a strange look again, and he wondered what was wrong. Finally, he noticed the card the man used to pay for $800 in groceries. His blood boiled!
Cashier’s Eyes Widen
Not Just Any Card
The man had used an EBT card to pay for his groceries, which included tons of luxury items most people couldn’t afford on their own. Patrick was very upset at this point and pulled out his phone to snap a picture.
Not Just Any Card
EBT Explanation
An electronic benefits card (EBT) is what the United States government issues to those in need. It’s the newer form of the food stamp system, and it’s welfare. Typically, it goes to people who make less money and need help buying groceries.
EBT Explanation
Not Judging
While it wasn’t wrong for this couple to use an EBT card, Patrick was angry about it because they could clearly pay for those groceries themselves. It seemed like they were abusing the system, and he chose to do the unthinkable!
Not Judging
Incredulous
Though Patrick was upset, he took a photo and bit his tongue. He thought he might have been quick to judge and decided to hold back his fury. In fact, he couldn’t know this couple’s situation, but then he saw them in the parking lot; it was the final straw!
Incredulous
Why He’s Mad
Patrick had to work hard to make ends meet. In fact, he and his wife had sacrificed a lot to provide for their kids. Overall, he felt betrayed by his government and these people, so he had a duty to do all he did!
Why He’s Mad
Military Families Struggle
Military families often struggle and qualify for the food stamp program. Though they earn money for fighting for their country, it’s usually not enough. In fact, most military personnel don’t make much more than a retail employee.
Military Families Struggle
Patrick Was in That Boat
Many military families don’t qualify for the food stamp program, even though they can’t afford food. In fact, Patrick’s family was in that boat, and that’s why he believed he should intervene and did so without a qualm.
Patrick Was In That Boat
Loading It Up
The couple took a long time to load all that food into the back of the car. Therefore, Patrick had already completed his purchase for his groceries, seeing them in the parking lot. He happened to look at them at the wrong time, which was a huge mistake.
Loading It Up
Regrets
He’d already made peace with himself about what he’d seen, deciding to shake it off and move on. However, he noticed the vehicle they drove. It was quite expensive, and it was too much. He chose to make them famous!
Regrets
Taking to Social Media
The couple had purchased $800 in groceries and were now loading it into a Hyundai Genesis. Patrick knew that these cars sold at $15,000 to $20,000, which was more than his family’s vehicle. How could they afford it on welfare?
Taking To Social Media
Big Mistake
Patrick believed that this extra detail of a family driving an extravagant vehicle added more insult to injury. It made no sense that they could afford such a nice car if they were on welfare. It was strange!
Big Mistake
Expensive Model
Though the Hyundai Genesis isn’t a Tesla by any means, it’s still an expensive model from a respectable brand. Likewise, people on welfare normally wouldn’t be able to afford it. Therefore, he went to Facebook to express his rage over the matter.
Expensive Model
Outrage
He started his rant on Facebook, saying he had to vent. He explained that the photo on the left was the groceries he could afford for his family on that pay period (four people). The picture on the right was of the purchase of the couple in front of him. He didn’t stop there!
Outrage
Full Buggies
Patrick went on to say that the photo on the right showed two full carts of groceries. This included things like steak and other luxury food items. Then, he said that they bought all that on food stamps.
Full Buggies
Injustice
He continued with his rant, saying he wouldn’t have had a problem with that if he hadn’t seen them move around large wads of cash to get their EBT card and then load all the food into the back of their new Hyundai Genesis!
Injustice
The Rest of the Explanation
He mentioned in the Facebook post that the vehicle cost about $15,000 to $20,000 more than his. Patrick then said he wanted to take the time to tell that family that they’re welcome from a hard-working person who struggles to buy food.
The Rest Of The Explanation
Voice of Dissent
Most of the comments reflected his thoughts. People said they’d seen similar things. However, other Facebook users criticized him for his post because he was judging a stranger. The new car could have been a gift.
Voice Of Dissent
Backlash
One person asked if he knew their entire back story. He was too quick to judge someone because he was angry. In fact, the man might have worked, and the spouse didn’t because they had other problems to deal with.
Backlash
More Backlash
Others said that the vehicle might have been a gift and the money in the wallet was to pay for the car note. Regardless, there was no way Patrick could know anything about that couple’s life situation. Patrick had a reply ready to go!
More Backlash
Struggles
Patrick’s response was classic. He said the odds of all that being true were slim. His family struggled and couldn’t get approved for government assistance. They were denied, and that woman probably wasn’t dying. He worked hard for their free lifestyle.
Struggles
Going Viral
It wasn’t surprising that Patrick’s Facebook post attracted tons of attention. In fact, it had hundreds of comments and was shared over 100,000 times. There were plenty of arguments against and for his opinion of the couple, who probably didn’t need assistance.
Going Viral
Controversial Topic
One person said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but his was very biased. No one should be thanking Patrick or others for working to earn money. Many families participate in the EBT program and are struggling just as much as him.
Controversial Topic
Better Vetting Processes Necessary
Overall, the Facebook post did make it clear that there are many voices out there. Most people feel those on EBT shouldn’t get expensive items, soda, and junk food. However, it’s there to help Americans who struggle, so it’s unlikely to go away. What do you think?
Better Vetting Processes Necessary