A Target Experience

So, I was inspired by Kaitlyn Baker's blog and I've decided to start this record of my experiences as an AmeriCorps *Vista. For anyone who doesn't know, I'm currently serving at the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am a community trainer for the Ohio Benefit Bank along with other duties at the foodbank.

I wanted to start out this blog with an interesting experience from this past Saturday. I had been reading Kaitlyn's blog and saw that Target stores accept food stamps. I was very excited to see that since Target is one of my guilty pleasures. So, after going out to lunch with my parents on Saturday I stopped by Target to pick up a few little groceries. However, before I did any heavy shopping I wanted to make sure that they would definitely take my food stamps. (My mom said she would pick up the tab if they wouldn't take my food stamps. But I am determined not to let my parents pay for my things any longer!)

So I walked on up to the guest services counter. There was a young guy working the counter and I asked him if they accepted food stamps and flashed my shiny new Ohio Direction card. He said, "You know I'm not sure, but I'll ask someone!". He then called a manger on his radio. She didn't respond. So he called over another young guy who appeared to be a shift leader of some sort. This guy wasn't sure either so he suggested that the young guy helping me call "Jason" on the radio...but use channel 4. (From my work at an amusement park, I'm assuming this channel is a "private" channel that wouldn't be broadcast to the whole store). Well "Jason" had a very interesting response to my question. He said "No, we do not take food stamps. But we can take the EBT card". Umm, What?? So you do take them? Or you don't? There aren't paper food stamps anymore, which I'm assuming this manager didn't know...so I just guessed that they did in fact take them.

Well, I continued shopping and picked up a few things. Then I went up to the register and the woman rang up my items. I put my card into the reader and waited a second. The cashier said "Umm, I don't think that worked". But on the touch pad it prompted me 'Would you like to charge this to food or cash?" And I proceeded the way I had at Kroger a few days before. Then the transcation went through and printed out my reciept. Easy enough. I then decided to let the shift leader know that it had worked. I told him that indeed they do take food stamps and that they just run it through like a regular debit card, since there are no longer paper food stamps. He seemed very embarrassed and said that he was unaware that it all came on the EBT card these days. I simply said "Yeah, most people don't realize that. Just wanted to let you know!".

On the one hand, I felt kind of good that I had shown this particular Target how to use food stamps and that way more people might be able to get groceries and hey, it'll make more money for the Target too. But on the other hand, it was also kind of disheartening that they didn't know anything about food stamps - and they sell groceries! Admittedly, I wasn't at a Target in a low income area but still! And I'll admit, it was a little embarrassing going through all that drama just for a few groceries. I went to Kroger yesterday and bought all my groceries for the next two weeks and didn't face any of this embarrassment or difficulty. Just some food for thought.