Robin Dickinson — a family practice physician — is a woman who experienced the unthinkable; she suffered two strokes that left her unable to work. ?The Dickinson family had previously been financially secure enough to allow Dickinson’s husband to be a stay-at-home dad. After her strokes, he also became her caregiver. They had enough savings to cover bills and the mortgage, but there was little money left for food. At one point, Dr. Dickinson realized that her family may be eligible for assistance. She applied and qualified for food stamps (SNAP).
Dickinson describes her first grocery store trip to use her SNAP benefits; her little girl — who loves cucumbers — was so excited that when she returned to the car, she was sitting in the back seat hugging her cucumbers.
A project by the non-profit group Hunger Free Colorado?–?”Hunger Through My Lens” — gives digital cameras to food stamp recipients like Dickinson and?asks them to chronicle what it’s like to be hungry in America. The project’s mission is “to empower people who are living in poverty and to promote awareness about hunger issues.” The resulting photographs have become ?a part of a traveling exhibit.
?Photo by?Hunger Free Colorado
From?PBS:
What does hunger look like in America? In Colorado, a diverse group of women who receive food assistance benefits are chronicling their personal experiences through photography. The NewsHour’s Mary Jo Brooks takes a closer look at their work, which has been exhibited at coffee shops, libraries and the state capitol.
These women were not and are not deadbeats. They are people who have experienced something that most of us could experience at any given time.?
Photo by Andrea Fuller
Dr. Dickinson has since opened a family practice clinic for low-income patients. She’s currently able to work only a couple of hours per day, but as her strength returns, she’ll increase her workload. She has big plans and long-term goals to expand her family practice and help more low-income people. She anticipates that she and her family will be off of SNAP assistance within a year.
The video from PBS:
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Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?subscribe to her public updates on Facebook,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
