Incensed
He glanced at the shopper’s grocery cart and became so enraged that he had to take a photo. It appeared to be a regular shopping excursion, yet he was unaware that he was on the verge of exiting the supermarket in a fit of fury. However, it was not the lengthy queues at the cash register nor the throng of shoppers in the produce section that caused him to lose his cool. It was neither the shrieking kids nor the dazed mothers pushing their shopping carts ahead of him like zombies. It was a cart belonging to another family, and when he looked inside, he completely lost control.
Incensed
Doing Everything He Could
Patrick Gibson was diligent in his work and did all he could to provide for his small family. Upon his enlistment in the U.S. Army, he believed that life might become easier. He certainly found it hard to leave his family for months on end while serving his country, but if there was one lesson from his parents that stuck with him, it was that nothing came without a cost.
Doing Everything He Could
Making Do
Patrick felt fortunate to have met Whitney, the love of his life, and soon after, the joyous couple got married. Before he realized it, he had become a father of two children – one son and one daughter. The couple experienced difficulties, and with only one income earner in the household, they had to manage with what was within their financial means.
Making Do
A Family To Feed
In order for his family to eat, Patrick often went without food himself, skipping breakfast so that his $70 would last as long as possible. When you have four mouths to feed, $70 doesn’t go far, and after covering other household expenses like diapers, car payments, gas, and toiletries, the Gibsons were barely getting by. Patrick thought to himself that it was okay. He was content with what he possessed. Somehow, they would manage to make it work…
A Family To Feed
Grocery Shopping
As Patrick had a small remainder from his monthly paycheck, he resolved to go to the local Walmart for some grocery shopping. As he walked through the aisles, he carefully selected the specials and best buys while doing mental calculations. As he examined the beautifully red grapes in the produce aisle, he thought that perhaps he could get a small treat for the family today. Patrick was unaware that his smile was soon to be erased.
Grocery Shopping
A Treat For His Family
Patrick was eager to provide his family with a treat as a way of thanking them for their patience and understanding. He was willing to spend all his remaining money to keep his wife and kids happy. He selected the red grapes he was considering purchasing, along with a few pieces of his children’s favorite candy. Until the payment was due, he felt proud of his purchase, as it was all he could afford.
A Treat For His Family
Getting Antsy
An abundance of people occupied Walmart that day, and for this reason he wished to limit his stay to the necessary minimum. As their weary mothers pushed them without energy, children cried loudly, and inconsiderate individuals collided with Patrick’s heels from behind as they maneuvered their shopping carts. The moment had come to leave this place. He nudged his scant groceries toward the checkout and stood by for service, never allowing this minor act to spoil his day.
Getting Antsy
Something Caught His Attention
As Patrick was still attempting to determine whether he could afford the additional groceries he had purchased that day, something grabbed his attention. It belonged to another customer, yet it stood out from the rest, and he found himself gazing at it enviously.
Something Caught His Attention
Wistful
Patrick observed with a touch of wistfulness that the two shopping carts in front of him were stacked high as the queue of shuffling shoppers progressed at a leisurely pace. He noticed fresh steaks, butter, bacon, cheese, shrimp, lobster—every luxury item he could think of was piled high in the two carts. As they began to place their treats on the counter, he muttered under his breath, “Must be nice.” He never anticipated that his subsequent action would provoke the anger of thousands.
Wistful
Wait A Minute…
The couple’s groceries were packed and tallied, so it was no shock when the figure that appeared on the screen was a staggering $800. Patrick was astonished when the man took out his wallet to pay and opened it. He set aside a bundle of $100 bills and reached for another item.
Wait A Minute…
Who Buys $800 On Groceries?
Patrick believed that the other shopper had done all the monthly shopping in a single trip. However, aside from the essential groceries required by every household, Patrick could not overlook the luxury items present in the cart. He thought, “He should be doing well.” Until he caught sight of what the man took from his wallet. At that point, he began to feel confused.
Who Buys $800 On Groceries
The Cashier Looked At Patrick
The cashier exchanged glances with Patrick when she saw the man bypass the $100 bills. At that moment, he realized it was not only him. That day, the man’s selections were indeed atypical and rather pricey—particularly for a family in financial distress and likely for a grocery store worker earning insufficient wages. The man opted for something entirely different instead of using his money for payment.
The Cashier Looked At Patrick
No Cash, No Credit Card.
Patrick pondered, “Perhaps he needed the money for something else.” His anxiety subsided when he was certain the man would use a credit card to make the payment. Soon, he would see how mistaken he was. He felt sorry for him for an instant. Perhaps all of these luxuries were a pleasure for his family, who he was accumulating debt to support. The man took a card out of his wallet at that moment. It wasn’t a credit card, sorry.
No Cash No Credit Card
The Cashier’s Eyes Widened
He gave the cashier the card. She gave Patrick another strange look, looking surprised. What was going on? He was unable to identify the issue. Then he saw the card that the man had just paid the enormous $800 with. His blood began to boil at that point.
The Cashier’s Eyes Widened
Not Just Any Card
For those who are unaware, an electronic benefits card, or EBT card, is a food stamp system that enables state welfare departments to distribute benefits using a payment card. And the man was paying for all of his luxuries with this money. Patrick took out his phone angrily, having had enough.
Not Just Any Card
Not Judging
Patrick was upset that the couple could pay for food on their own, even if it was OK for them to use an EBT card. At that point, he made the decision to intervene and take the unimaginable action.
Not Judging
Incredulous
Despite his anger, Patrick bit his tongue and took a picture. He suppressed his rage, thinking that perhaps he was too fast to pass judgment. Ultimately, he was unable to ascertain the couple’s circumstances. The last straw, however, was about to be what he witnessed next in the Walmart parking lot.
Incredulous
Why He Was Furious
Patrick was trying very hard to earn a living. To support their children, he and his spouse had made incalculable sacrifices. He felt deceived and felt compelled to act in this way out of obligation.
Why He Was Furious
Some Military Families Are Struggling
Despite the fact that the majority of military families are eligible for food stamps, many are excluded from the program despite their inability to purchase enough food. Among those unfortunate families was Patrick’s family. He felt compelled to step in because of this, and he didn’t hesitate to do so.
Some Military Families Are Struggling
Loading It All Up
When he passed them in the parking lot, Patrick had already completed paying for his three bags of groceries because the pair took their time loading the massive amount of booty into the back of their car. He made a huge error by looking at the incorrect moment.
Loading It All Up
Regrets
He had already accepted what he had just witnessed and made the decision to move on, but then he noticed the vehicle they were in. It was simply too much. He therefore chose to make them well-known.
Regrets
Taking To Social Media
The pair, who had spent $800 on groceries, were packing their spoils into a brand-new Hyundai Genesis, which Patrick claims is between $15,000 and $20,000 more expensive than the vehicle his own family owns. When they were on welfare, how could they have afforded it?
Taking To Social Media
Big Mistake
The fact that the family was traveling in an ostentatious vehicle only made Patrick’s situation worse. For those of you who are unfamiliar with automobiles, a brand-new Hyundai Genesis is a good vehicle. Although it isn’t a Tesla, it is a high-end vehicle from a reputable company, and it is undoubtedly beyond the means of someone who would typically be on welfare. As he vented his anger on Facebook, his blood was boiling.
Big Mistake
Outrage
“Sorry, but I had to vent,” he said at the start of his Facebook tirade. The quantity of groceries, including diapers, that I was able to buy for my family during this pay period is shown in the image on the left. (wife, son, daughter, and myself), and since I genuinely put in a lot of effort to earn a living, it was rewarded in cash. He continued his tirade after saying, “The purchase in front of me in line is shown in the picture on the right.”
Outrage
Injustice
If the image doesn’t convey it, there are two full buggies of groceries filled with steak and other delectable foods. The kicker is here. Patrick went on to say, “This purchase was made with food stamps, which I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t witness the individual moving their large fold of cash out of the way to reach the ebt card and then stuffing them into the back of a brand-new Hyundai Genesis.”
Injustice
Justified?
Patrick wrote, “That is roughly $15,000–$20,000 more than my car.” He goes on incredulously, “I just wanted to take a moment to let this person/family know that you are very welcome from all of us hard-working, struggling Americans who have to pay for your nice steak feast… ”
Justified?
Voices Of Dissent
Some Facebook users chastised Patrick for his post, stating that he shouldn’t judge a stranger based solely on what he has seen, but the majority of replies were favorable, with many others stating that they have seen similar things. “Do you really know their back story?” someone asked in a reply.She mentioned that the new car might have been a present. However, Patrick’s vengeance gave him a better understanding of why he believed that day at Walmart, something unfair had happened.
Voices Of Dissent
Backlash
“Are you truly familiar with their past? Refrain from passing judgment on someone just because you’re upset. How can you tell if that individual works and their spouse is unable to work due to issues? that the new car was a gift, and they use all of the money in their pockets to pay their expenses. How are you certain that’s not true?Someone voiced criticism. Patrick, however, had the ideal response.
Backlash
Struggles
As with many other food stamp scenarios, the likelihood of that happening in this one is nearly as high as the likelihood that I will be granted government aid because we are having financial difficulties. Oh, I forgot. I’m very certain the woman isn’t dying because we were already turned down and nobody handed her a free car. However, I’m confident that diligent individuals like me are providing her with a free existence.”
Struggles
Going Viral
Patrick’s post has received a great deal of attention, which is not surprising. On Facebook, it has received more than 100,000 shares and hundreds of comments, with a wide range of arguments supporting and refuting his assessment of the pair who didn’t appear to require government help. An intriguing aspect is brought up in one specific post on Patrick’s experience.
Going Viral
A Controversial Issue
A picture speaks a thousand words, and your interpretation is blatantly biased. He said, “The majority of families in the program are working families who are struggling to make ends meet just like you are, so nobody needs to thank you or anyone else for working for their grocery bill.” The question of who is eligible for financial aid remains a touchy one.
A Controversial Issue