With years and years of unsatisfying art classes behind her, Stephanie Smith finally realized her true artistic calling is photography. Armed with a few cameras and an arsenal of lenses, you can find her shooting photos of people, food, bugs, flowers and her 3 quirky kids. Besides photographing everything in sight, you're likely to find her 'playing' guitar, running, working out, avoiding large birds, and keeping up with her kids' activities. Stephanie does not take life too seriously and relishes in life's simple pleasures. You can keep up with her and her photography business at www.slsmithphotography.com.

Those People

written by Stephanie Smith
and edited by Kim Murray

What kind of person do you picture when you envision a person on food stamps, WIC, or Public Assistance? Go on, close your eyes. Who do you see when you think of ‘those people’? Do you picture someone who lives in the inner city? Someone who is uneducated? Perhaps you picture minorities or people who do not work? Do you imagine people who are dirty or lazy?

Be honest. Who do you picture when someone mentions public assistance or says the words “food stamps”? 

 * * * * *

Let me take you back to eight short years ago when my husband and I needed the helping hand of public assistance for our small family. We needed a way to feed our two babies, to supplement for what we could not afford: healthy food.  Sure, we could have afforded hot dogs, bologna, cheese puffs, crème filled cookies, you know, all those foods you can buy for .99 cents a package. But we simply could not afford the healthful food that would keep our children strong and thriving. 

I couldn’t believe this was happening to us. We both have college degrees. We live in a nice neighborhood. We have a fantastic marriage. We love our children with all of our hearts. We are good, respectable, moral people.

But we were experiencing a run of bad luck. 

I was a teacher, but had just birthed our second baby and wanted to stay home with both of my children. We thought we would be fine with just my husband’s salary (he was a pilot) and what I had saved; but because 9/11 had just happened, the airline industry took a huge hit and they were not hiring.

Both out of work, my husband had to take a job as a flight instructor and a janitor at the airport. He worked 16-18 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Yet it was still not enough to pay our rent, college loans, utilities or to feed our babies. 

Rather than let our children suffer from lack of nutrition, we swallowed our pride and made the difficult decision to apply for public assistance.  We qualified for medical assistance (his jobs did not provide health insurance) and WIC.

It was both humbling and embarrassing, but also a huge relief to be on public assistance. We could finally get our children caught up on their doctor’s appointments. I was able to buy milk, cheese, peanut butter, cereal, formula, veggies, fruit, eggs… all of those healthful foods that, just months ago, I had taken for granted. 

The feeling of security I had from being able to keep my children healthy far outweighed and eventually eradicated any feelings of shame or embarrassment that I had. It certainly wasn’t easy. Especially when people shook their heads and clucked their tongues at me while paying for our food with our WIC check. But as you parents know, there is nothing you wouldn’t do for your children – including getting clucked at.

During the course of that year, we were able to keep our children fed and healthful. And we worked really hard to get back on our feet and stay there. My husband eventually found a better job and I began to sub in schools, which eventually led to a full time teaching position. 

I was thankful for the help and support of the public assistance program but very happy to not need to rely on it anymore.

* * * * *

Fast forward to now. We live in a beautiful home and we have the means to feed our children whatever we want to feed them. I am even able to stay at home and raise our children while building my own business!

People are always shocked when I reveal our past to them. Their surprised reaction always makes me chuckle a bit. It’s hard for them to grasp. They always exclaim, “but you look so normal.” Of course we’re normal. Why would you think otherwise?

As I look back, I am so thankful for that time of need in our lives because I learned some amazing lessons in humility, judgment and how there are no limits to what I would do for my children.

We are so blessed to be financially secure today, especially in this insecure economy. I am so very thankful each and every time I am able to buy groceries for my family. I no longer take that simple act of providing for my children for granted.
 

* * * * *

Remember that person you envisioned when I asked you to close your eyes and picture the type of person that you would expect to see living on public assistance?

I’d like to challenge you to change your perception of ‘those people.’ Look around you. See your neighbors? Your co-workers? Look at the young, attractive family driving around in a mini van. Maybe even look in the mirror. Is that what you picture when you think of ‘those people’?

You should.

I know it seems altogether impossible (it certainly did to me many years ago), but in reality ‘those people’ can be any one of us. In a split second (or a few days), everything can change and any one of us can become one of ‘those people.’

Even you.