Wende
Told by Central Texas Food Bank
Wende is a veteran new to the Austin area. During a previous government shutdown, she attempted to find to resources as a furloughed employee.
Madison: Okay, so Wende, you said you work for the Internal Revenue Service?
Wende: Yes ma’am.
M: Okay, um, what can you tell me about yourself?
W: Umm– I’m living in Austin by myself and just recently, with the government shutdown, just starting to struggle to try and get food.
M: Mmhm. And so yeah, you said you recently moved to Austin?
W: Yes.
M: And have you been able to easily find other mobile pantries in the area?
W: I’ve been getting less from different networking different people to get that information. But since I’m a veteran I just decided to come here.
M: Okay, great. And did you know about the Central Texas Food Bank on-site distribution last Wednesday?
W: No, I didn’t. I wasn’t aware of it.
M: Okay. We might be having one in the future so right now, usually the food bank just distributes food to places like this, to distribute food to clients– last Wednesday we had one for like any federal employee affected by the shutdown. We might be having one in the future so just continue looking for that. I’m not sure exactly when we will be having it though, it’s kind of if the shutdown goes on any longer.
W: Okay, thank you.
M: But it’s just like this. Um– okay. So how has the government shutdown affected you?
W: Just trying to worry about trying to pay bills and trying to reach out. Most of the people that I’ve been speaking with have been pretty understanding and willing to work with me.
M: I know I’m sure with rent and things like that though that’s really hard, right?
W: Yeah, I’ve let them be aware of what was going on and they just tell us to keep us informed and we’ll try to see if we can help you. They just keep getting back to me, letting me know.
M: That’s great that at least they’re trying to work with you.
W: Yeah, they’re– I’ve gotten a lot of support from different bill collectors and different people in the area reaching out and trying to help me. One of the churches gave me a gift card for gas.
M: Oh, that’s really good. Do you use any assistance programs like SNAP or anything like that?
W: No, I’ve never– never reached out to anything until the government shutdown is when it–
M: So that’s your first time using food assistance?
W: Yes.
M: And what was your experience like for seeking food assistance because of the government shutdown?
W: It’s kinda overwhelming. And time consuming trying to figure out what’s good to go to, where to go– plus I’m new to the area and just trying to find the different places that might be able to assist me. And it’s kinda complicated to tell them, hey, we’re furloughed, we’re not getting paid, but I have pay stubs in the past so you have to get there and tell them this whole spiel of what’s going on, but a lot of ’em are just oh, we understand, we know what’s going on.
M: That’s good. I know at our kind of sites we just use the general intake forms that you have filled out just to name that kind of information, we don’t require a lot of identification or anything like that. I will mention too we have a right up there, there’s gonna be a whiteboard stand. It shows all of our mobile distribution sites and we use the same intake form so we don’t require a lot of information so that will show you ones in the area as well from ours. Um– (pause) how many are in your household? Just you?
W: Just me by myself.
M: Okay and um– can you talk about the impact that missing a paycheck is having on your day-to-day life? I know you said you had to, you know, come and find all the different pantries–
W: Yeah and then trying to explain my situation and it’s just a struggle and time-consuming and having to reach out to them and then trying to figure out how to get there and where they’re located. It’s time-consuming, it’s overwhelming, and it’s tear-jerking just to be in this situation and have to reach out and tell them hey, this is what’s going on and this is what’s happening to me.
M: And it’s hard to because you don’t have any control over it, it’s you know, going on at the top, so I’m just really sorry for everything you have to go through.
Yeah and I– I don’t have any savings unfortunately. So I don’t really have nothing for a backup as far as like trying to pay my bills and everything. So I’m relying either on them, the creditors or the bill collectors, to be understanding and wait until we get paid or to try to find a payment that they’re willing to agree to. But right now I don’t have any money to even do that so. (laughs)
M: Yeah. I’m so sorry. So we talked about that. Is there anything that you would like us all to know about your experience with the government shutdown, anything you’d like to share?
W: The only thing is that I’m just happy that people are able to support me and be understanding and be able to listen to my complaining and stuff like that.
M: No! It’s not complaining, it’s crazy that you all have to–
W: Well, it’s just emotional I guess. Just to deal with it, not to be in this situation.
M: Yeah, I’m just so sorry for everything that you have to go through during this time.
W: Yeah. I don’t know why I’m crying.
M: No, it’s very emotional and I I just can’t even imagine how hard this must be.
W: Yeah, it is. Just day-to-day and you don’t know but I was called by manager to come back to work today but he let me know that we’re not going to be getting paid.
M: And do you know about how it’s been affecting everyone in your workplace too? Are they in similar situations or are you not really sure?
W: I don’t know. I haven’t talked to a lot of them so I’m not real sure about it. But today I’ll get to see some of them.
M: Yeah, and are you excited about at least going into work today?
W: Yeah ’cause I haven’t seen them in over a month so it’s kinda nice to be able to go. It’s like you’re family, you know.
M: And what brought you to Austin?
W: Just looking for new opportunities and the weather. Like you know–
M: Yeah, I moved here a year ago and I kinda came for the weather as well.
W: Yeah, ’cause of like right now they have eight or ten inches of snow and it’s like negative eleven back home in Ohio.
M: Oh, you’re from Ohio? Okay! Actually the last person I just talked to is from Ohio as well but I’m from Indiana, so.
W: Well that’s good in a way.
M: So what part of Ohio?
W: It’s Lima, it’s right there oh the border right by Fort Wayne.
M: Okay, I’m from Bloomington, Indiana, so like just south of Indianapolis area.
W: Oh wow.
M: Yeah, it’s a small world. Let me go to some other questions (shuffling paper). Sorry, my papers are all kind of messed up here. (shuffling paper, long pause). Okay, and Wende I know you mentioned you’re a veteran as well. And how long were you in the service for?
W: For five years. I served in Desert Storm.
M: Oh, okay. And how long ago was that then?
W: (laughs) It was like 1991.
M: Okay, yeah, and what have you been doing since then? You went back to Ohio–
W: Yeah, I’ve been working and going to school, I worked for Proctor and Gamble. I’ve been going to school and I take care of my son. Being a single parent.
M: Yeah, and I’m sure that that’s a struggle too with the shutdown.
W: Right. Oh, well, he’s twent–
M: And just struggle in general, yeah.
W: Yeah, but he’s twenty-five so he lives in Ohio. And he’s married so I don’t really have to worry about him too much. He’s more worried about me and asking me, “Mom, I’ll send you money for food or whatever you need for assistance.” So I was grateful for that.
M: Yeah, that’s really great that you have him as well. What hopes do you have for yourself, for members of your family in the future?
W: To try and get a job that I’m able to not have to worry about this. Like that, you know, not knowing if you’re going to get paid or anything or my comfort, I don’t know, more stability I guess.
M: And it’s crazy too because, I don’t know, I guess when getting, like I always, like I would like to work for like a non-profit or government and it’s just crazy because you don’t even think about that as something that’s going to happen, like a government shutdown.
W: Yeah like a criteria you don’t tell them, hey this could–
M: Here, I’m gonna, I’ll pause it for a second–
— END OF RECORDING ONE —
— BEGINNING OF RECORDING TWO —
M: One more, okay, so you were saying your church has been able to help you out as well.
W: It’s not a church that I’ve gone to before but I was at Chase Bank and I was telling them what was going on and they asked, they said if you need assistance just go to this church and they are supposed to help. So I went to the church and they offered me some gift cards for gas and some food and they offered to pay my utility bill and possibly help with a car payment so I was grateful for that.
M: Yeah, I didn’t know. What church is it?
W: It’s called Hill Bible– Bible Hill or something?
M: Okay, I haven’t heard about that but that’s really great that they have that resource going.
W: I think they– it’s more geared for the people that–
M: For furloughed employees.
W: No, well, the people that go to church there. So but he was willing to help me because of the situation and also I told him I was new to the area.
M: Yeah and that’s just such a hard struggle on its own as well.
W: Yeah he offered me to, he gave me, he said a prayer and he also gave me times when the churches had services and gave me a packet with all of the services they have at their church so it sounds like a nice church I might try to go there just to see what other options they have.
M: Yeah, and that would be a good place to build a community too. ‘Cause, do you not know many people in Austin other than your work people?
W: No, not really.
M: Yeah, and that’s really hard too during this time. Let’s see– if you could talk to someone who was thinking about coming in to get food assistance, maybe like another furloughed employee, what would you want to tell them?
W: Make sure they dress warm, bring some bags, and be ready to wait (laughs).
M: Yeah.
W: Be willing to wait, I guess.
M: Yeah. Is there anything that you would like Feeding Texas or the food bank to know? Anything you’d like to share? (someone walks by) Oh, I’m sorry.
Unidentified person: You’re fine.
W: I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve ever been here so I really don’t know. It’s nice though. I only think I would– I think that when people are coming I think that the cars should not be allowed in here, that’s what I think. For safety reasons. Just so then they’re not trying to backup or trying to do something with people around. But other than that that’s the only thing I really see being an issue. So that people can come and go freely, not having to worry about cars.
M: Are there any other needs that concern you as far as like, I know you’ve been able to visit the mobile pantries for food, but you’ve been saying you just have to talk to the bill collectors to get them to understand your situation– are there certain resources you wish you could get or don’t know how to get yet?
W: It’s just– I have no money so how do I reach out to people to tell people I have no money? And most people are not like– I went to the dentist and I told them I had this hole in my tooth and I needed to get my tooth filled and they said it’s $81. I said, I don’t have it. I said I’m furloughed, I work for the government. So we’ll just hold off on it then. So they’re not willing– and it’s like I need this tooth filled! (laughs)
M: Yeah, yeah, that’s a health concern.
W: Yeah, so I mean this, it’s just hard to try to deal with telling people, “I have no money,” but I mean, it’s not like we make a lot of money anyways, but still, sometimes you’re able to kind of maneuver your bills to what’s going on in your life.
M: Yeah.
W: So.
M: Mhm.
W: Not now. (laughs)
M: Yeah, I was gonna give you– have you heard of 211?
W: Yeah, the social worker told me that about that, but I haven’t reached out to 211 yet.
M: Okay. Let me just give you a card. (pause) So that, yeah, this is just 211 but it kind of shows all the services that you can ask questions about that they can you know, help navigate you through. I know especially like when we had the distribution on Wednesday a lot of people had questions that I wasn’t able to ask but 211, those are like the experts on all, they’re just navigators for all of those resources. So it might be worth talking to them and seeing what additional–
W: Yeah, I was just trying to see something, trying to get my two cents, that’s all. Cause I’m not eligible for dental care here, you have to be 100% disability, and I’m not 100%.
M: Oh, I didn’t know that. Okay.
W: Yeah, you have to be 100% disability to be able to get dental services here.
M: Okay. Yeah.
W: (laughs) [indistinguishable]
M: Well I would call them and they might be able to see if there’s anything else out there.
W: ‘Cause I know there’s a clinic but I think the clinic it’s only eligible for if you don’t have insurance but the thing is I have insurance.
M: Mhm.
W: But I don’t have the funds for it. (laughs)
M: Yeah, I’m so sorry.
W: It’s like you’re caught. (laughs) Where do you go?
M: Well Wende, I have a few– is there anything else that you’d like to share? Anything you want Feeding Texas or the food bank to know?
W: No, I’m just grateful that you’re here today and grateful that I’m able to get some food to help me get along through this crisis that we’re going through. And I appreciate it.
M: I’m just gonna ask some demographic information [5:27] so what is your age if you don’t mind sharing?
W: 50.
M: And education?
W: I have a master’s in business administration.
M: Very nice. Marital status?
W: I’m divorced.
M: Okay. It’s just you in the household correct?
W: Yes.
M: No children in the household?
W: No.
M: Okay. Race or ethnicity.
W: I’m white.
M: Mmhm. And would you be willing to be contacted by a food bank staffer to learn more about your situation?
W: Sure.
M: Okay. Would you be willing to be interviewed by TV or newspaper reporters about your situation?
W: Sure.
M: Okay! If you are interested in that we do also have what’s called a media group, you definitely don’t have to join if you don’t want to but with the media contact group– sorry, we’ll just do that– it’s for individuals who are interested in sharing their story to reputable individuals, organizations, or groups such as journalists, researchers, policy-makers who want to know about Texans facing hunger, and I know especially right now a lot of reporters and researchers are interested in the government shutdown as well. So you don’t have to join if you don’t want to. If you want to join you would receive quarterly updates about the state of the fight against hunger in Texas and you would be contacted when an interested party has reached out to Feeding Texas or the Central Texas Food Bank. But you would make the final decision on whether you chose to speak with an individual, organization, or group. You’re not required to speak with anyone you do not wish to speak with. Are you interested?
W: Yeah, sure. I was just gonna say too I was at the grocery at HEB getting some groceries and the guy behind me paid for my groceries.
M: Ooh, that’s really nice. I’ll have you read through all of this first and then here’s a pen for joining and here, we can do this so it doesn’t fly away.
(Long pause)
[7:57]
W: [indistinguishable] lots of good people that can’t sit and stand maybe that they get help first before the other people, I don’t know.
M: Mhm. That’s a good idea.
W: When they come here one time it’s kinda hard to–
M: Yeah.
W: (laughs) yeah
M: I know all sites are different. This is definitely one of the larger sites that I’ve actually been to.
W: Oh, okay.
M: Yeah, like I said I’ve never been here before so I don’t know (laughs). Yeah, I will check in with Anchal to see if she has a calendar of all the Central Texas Food Bank mobile pantry sites and then if she has any within just Austin as well.
W: Okay, I appreciate it, thank you.
M: Wende, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me. And I’m just really sorry about everything that you guys have to be facing during the government shutdown.
W: It’s okay, at least I’ve gotten some food and you guys are reaching out and I’m getting help, so.
M: Yeah, and like I said if the shutdown continues the food bank was planning on having another future distribution and our food bank is literally right down the road if you exit that way but I don’t know when that information will be released. So our website is centraltexasfoodbank.org, it might be shared on there, I know some employers have been sharing that information so I just kind of keep looking for that, that might be a possibility.
W: Thank you, I appreciate it.
M: Thank you Wende. I’m gonna go find the calendar–
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