Woman Ridiculed For Using Food Stamps At Supermarket
Warner Robins, GA – Cindy Nerger and her husband aren’t proud that they require food stamps in order to feed their family, a shame that was exasperated when she was humiliated for using them at her local supermarket.
Last week, she got into an argument with a Kroger grocery store manager over her bill, reports WMAZ. The cashier insisted that she still owed $10 for the groceries in her cart, to which Nerger said she checked the items that she had selected and knew that food stamps would cover them. The manager ultimately let her go, but not before embarrassing her over the food stamps.
“He finally just said, ‘Okay, just give it to her.’ I said, ‘See, I told you it was covered by food stamps,’ and he said, ‘Excuse me for working for a living and not relying on food stamps!’”
Other customers in line behind her had watched the exchange.
“I turned around and saw everyone beyond me and I just burst into tears,” she said.
Nerger told the Huffington Post that she doesn’t feel entitled to the state assistance, and that she feels embarrassed already for needing it. “I felt shy when I used them and my husband does, too,” the 28-year-old said. “I would try to hide the card.”
She said that she is sure that there are some people on state assistance who are “just lazy,” but that what happened to her at the supermarket shouldn’t happen to anyone. “I’ve seen some comments from people talking about how they hate standing in line with somebody who’s got food stamps because they’ve got two carts full of food,” Nerger said. “Did you not realize maybe this person is not able to get to the grocery store but once a month?”
Food stamps and other state assistance programs have become a hot button in the upcoming presidential election. Interestingly, Nerger states that she doesn’t have cable, and doesn’t follow politics. “They’re all gonna kill us,” she said, voicing disapproval of both candidates. “Most of the people that we have to choose from — Obama with his spending and his health care reform, and then Mitt Romney, he just wants to let poor people die, so either way we’re doomed. So I don’t see any point in voting.”
A Kroger spokesperson apologized to Nerger and said that the manager had been transferred to another store. Kroger also offered Nerger a $15 gift card, which she declined.
Tags : cindy nerger, food stamp controversy, food stamps, georgia, kroger, supermarket, warner robins, woman ridiculed and embarrassed over food stamps
Posted: September 25, 2012
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Sep 25, 2012
What's she whining about? She looks like she could stand to miss a meal or two and not be affected by it.
Sep 25, 2012
wow really? are you that big of an asshole? must be, i feel sorry for you and the people around you who have to deal with you
Sep 26, 2012
Unacceptable! No one should be embarrassed to break out the EBT cards or Food Stamps! This just mean and cruel to someone. I have been behind people who broke out either one or the other. Never thought twice about it. We live in a very diverse city/town area and some are on SSI and/or on EBT/Food Stamps. Would it have been the same attitude if she had broken out her checkbook, a pen and reading glasses? That takes just as long or longer to get her items off the conveyor belt. It's just not right to do it. As for those waiting and the Manager who insulted her, Karma comes back three fold and she is an uncaring bitch. How lovely those who call themselves "Christians" act, when it interferes with their "perfect" lives.
Sep 26, 2012
Typical hate filled person John Gleichweit must be to say something about a women's weight when that is not the topic being discussed. You sir are small minded and petty. God help you shold you ever fall on hard times.
Sep 26, 2012
looks like she hasn't missed any meals…and had money to die her hair purple.
Sep 26, 2012
The only source for this news item is the so-called "victim". No one else was even contacted to verify the story. How many news outlets did she (or her attorneys) contact before a gullible WMAZ and Huffpo thought they had a story that fit a certain agenda? Even if true, Someone I've never heard of merely saying something mean to someone else I've never heard of in a town I've never heard of does not rise to the level of "news". BTW, Wendy, I missed the part in the article and source articles where the store manager is indentified as a Christian. Did you simply feel the need to slip some gratuitous Christian-bashing into your post? To quote thou: "This just mean and cruel…"
Sep 26, 2012
Do you think her kids should miss a meal or two you jackass?
Sep 26, 2012
Nobody wins in a conflict like this – - one just loses more than the other. The Kroger store manager should should be looking for a job! A lot of us may be on food stamps before the end of next year. All of us are not such judgemental persons. Unless you walk in a person's shoes, perhaps the best action is to "judge not"! You may have to "eat crow" sooner than you think!
Sep 27, 2012
You may want to read the full article on yahoo before passing judgement. She on a kidney machine for 12 hours a day and awaiting a kidney transplant . Her husband works part time because he has to care for his wlfe and daughter. I.am all for bashing those who are free loaders but this is not the case here.
Sep 27, 2012
Embarrassed huh? Yet she has no problem getting all gussied up running to tell her son story. She should have thanked the manager for working hard so she doesn't have to. Maybe she should bit the hand that feeds her.
Sep 27, 2012
Embarrassed huh? Yet she has no problem getting all gussied up running to tell her son story. She should have thanked the manager for working hard so she doesn't have to. Maybe she should bit the hand that feeds her.
Sep 27, 2012
Maybe should buy food instead of dying her hair purple…It also may help with job prospects…
Oct 3, 2012
Anyone editing these articles? "a shame that was exasperated"…I think you meant "exacerbated".
Oct 3, 2012
Anyone editing these articles? "a shame that was exasperated"…I think you meant "exacerbated".
May 1, 2013
To help fight the stigma against using food stamps. There is new product out in the market called food stamps skins which allow people to personalize their EBT card and protect their privacy! you can check it out here http://www.foodstampscovers.com..