💙Today's SNAP Story, brought to you by Kaiser Permanente: For most of his life, Rubin believed hard work could carry you through almost anything.

Living in Atlanta, Rubin often worked two full time jobs, taking pride in being able to provide for himself. Today, Rubin depends on a wheelchair and the daily support of a caregiver. The hardest part, he says, wasn’t learning how to live with physical limitations. It was learning how to accept help. “I’ve always been the one taking care of myself,” he says. “Now I need people for things I never thought I’d need.” That included applying for SNAP benefits. Rubin doesn’t ask for sympathy. In his own way, he asks for understanding. He hopes that one day an EBT card won’t be seen as a symbol of failure, but as a community choosing to care for its neighbors. Just as we build sidewalks for those who cannot walk with ease and ramps for those who use wheelchairs, programs, like SNAP, help ensure illness, injury, or unexpected hardship don’t also become hunger. In the end, none of us knows when life might change. When life changes, compassion and not judgment is what helps people find their way forward. After all, as Rubin says, “Life happens.” If you or someone you know is struggling to access SNAP benefits, call Wholesome Wave Georgia's SNAP Connection hotline at 678-631-7101.