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A peaceful but joyful Christmas

It was delayed until yesterday because of the adorable Jehan—this is Jean Valjean and little (14-year-old?) Cosette! I actually finished drawing it!! I forgot Cosette has brown hair when I was drawing it before.

Donald Trump is scheduled to do away with the SNAP / Food Stamps programs on November 1st.

This will affect a majority of United States citizens. Including right wingers (whether they’d like to own up to it or not). These programs are set up to give a helping hand to those who, otherwise, could not afford food on their own.

When you hear conversations about people in poverty or low income and more privileged individuals who don’t care say things like “Well there are systems and programs to help people like that”.

This is that system. This is that program. That program is about to be gone in less than 2 weeks. They will have nothing.

I am not talking about all of this as someone who read the statistics online and wants to share information. I am writing this as someone who works in an assisted living facility, and who’s about to see 65% of my residents lose their primary source of food income. I am writing this as someone who worked in a grocery store for 3 years and helped elderly, disabled individuals, veterans, single parents, and immigrants navigate their monthly food allowances.

People (if they aren’t already) are going to start to ration their food. People are going to start stealing food.

Not “might” not “could” not “maybe”

This will happen.

As someone who grew up on the poverty line, who had friends in the projects, who has been surrounded by these things my whole life : shit is going to go south fast.

Higher grocery prices are one thing, but not being able to afford any food is something else entirely.

If you’re thinking that this isn’t going to be that serious that it won’t effect that many people - I promise you, you don’t know just how many people this will fuck.

Your neighbors, your coworkers, your friend’s relatives, and your relatives.

Please, please, please, please, I need everyone in this country to understand the severity of what is about to happen.

I also want everyone to understand what I said, when I said people will have to resort to stealing food. This will happen. You might see this happen in person. And if you do - no you didn’t.

You wanna help, but can’t afford to help?

If you see someone stealing food or essential items - No. You. Didn’t.

Let me say it one more time, ok?

If you see somebody stealing food or essential items :

NO 👏 THE 👏 FUCK 👏 YOU 👏 DIDN’T 👏