I have a friend who desperately needs to be on food stamps. She has 4 kids a job at McDonald and a part time dancing career . As a big misconception dancers in this economy don't make a lot of money. They work 8 Hours just like the average Jane. The big difference is they don't almost always never get a paycheck or even under the table pay for their hard labor. They are required to perform at least 3- 30 times a night and sometimes unbelievably walking out with nothing from the economy being so bad.

Several times was cases where friends had to help her with the food for the babies or clothes for herself. I asked the question one day” Don't you get food stamps?” I have never received such a chilled stare. Then for the first time I asked myself “Why was this such a big deal?” Over and over again I went over it in my head. She clearly needed help, but why was she so reluctant on getting it? How many others are out there like this?

In 1979 the food stamp program became available nationwide due to physicians exposure of starving malnutrition ed children. How many children suffer due to this and what is the reason for this neglect?

A witness Dewayne Garrison was in line at super fresh behind a lady and her 2 kids. When she got to checkout she mentioned to the clerk how crowded it was and how there were not enough registers open. And the clerk just hateful replied “You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for our money paying for your food stamps.” right in front of her children. Could you imagine the pain and embarrassment this woman must have felt? To be put down by a clerk of the a store while purchasing food..

Although this is the largest food service program in Maryland along with wic, with the economy plunging, (having and 2 major bail outs in the united states), when do we start having compassion and understanding that there is a real cry for help. There is an estimate of 5,615,727 residents in Baltimore and the population rate of children being 1,402,961. At least 389,300 are on the food stamp program according to WTOPNEWS. Our state poverty rate is 8.4% and with children under 18 is 10.9 % according to CWLA.

34% of People who are eligible for food stamps don't or refuse to receive them. And I have to ask the question if you scar someone enough to not do something when they don't do it who is to blame? The last time you judged someone had you thought for a second that that person may be a widow(er), or surprise, surprise lost their job. Or may be they have a job and it's still not enough. May be that person bust their butt harder than you and still brings in less then the next guy and has to hold their head in shame every time they think about feeding their children, because you want to down them for their need. May be they worked so much they can't work no more. They're are people on food stamps that have put more in to the taxes then the people complaining about them spending it. Just a thought. There needs to be more compassion in the world for others, because life is a domino effect and your opinion may be the one who stops a child from eating.

For most of the people with their nose up in the air over people who get food stamps , they do have to be reasonably eligible for food stamps. First you must make below an certain amount just to get it so there for you must be doing pretty bad off financially. Then you must be able to prove that you have a house, so they don't just give it away to just anyone on the street. Then you must prove you have nothing. As if this isn't terrible enough you are required to be at the office as early as 7:30 before the place opens up to be seen within a reasonable time. A reasonable time being 30 Min. to 3 Hours. If not Look to waiting anywhere from 3- 5 Hours. And if you get there late you have to wait in line to be able to wait in the line for service. And for all them hours of sitting your are accommodated with the old school student desk hard pull out chairs. And the service there isn't so friendly either. In my life I have never seen so much that one person has to go through just to feed their kids. The shame of being poor, eh?