In 2013, when I moved to Savannah for a few months, I was barely keeping myself afloat. Rory and I would not have made it if it wasn’t for SNAP.
I remember our first date so clearly. Shrimp and grits at Huey’s, sitting by the river. I spent almost everything I had just to make that moment happen. I didn’t care. I told myself I would figure it out later.
Later came, and it was rough.
I was living in a double-wide trailer with my boss. My days started when I heard him get out of the shower. I would take mine, we would eat our oatmeal, and then I would go out into the field and try to make sales. Door knocking. Cold calling. Trying to sell these damn water filters. I hated that job, but I was okay at it. The paycheck was just enough to cover gas and insurance. The commission was the promise, but the promise didn’t always come through.
I was hungry more often than not. Truly hungry. Rory shared their SNAP benefits with me so I could stay fed. They did not have much either, but they made sure I had enough. I never took that lightly.
When work slowed and I realized I could not survive there much longer, I asked them, after only knowing each other for a couple of months, "Want to move to Huntsville with me?"
They said yes.
The next six years were the best years I have ever had with someone. We LIVED. We crossed the country together. We saw things I had only dreamed about, often on someone else’s dime. We made a story worth remembering.
None of that would have been possible without the SNAP program being there for us when we needed it. No shame. Just gratitude. And proof that when people are supported, they can build something beautiful.
