the kids who got made fun of for the clothes they wore, and then, when their mom got a good job and was able to go off of assistance and (after several pay checks able to buy them some "name" tennis shoes) who heard, "Hey, welfare kids aren't supposed to wear shoes like those."

For the parents who volunteer at one food shelf, and then go to another to get help because of how we shame those in need.

For the parents who wear "poor looking" clothes when they go to the grocery store so that the clerk won't make comments about how nice they dress when the use food stamps.

For the woman in line ahead of my co-worker who was using food stamps when the women behind my co-worker said, "Must be nice to have food stamps to buy ice cream bar." That woman had the courage to respond, "It sure is nice. And tonight when your kids go the football game, think of my kids who have to stay home because we can't afford for them to go. And Saturday, when your kids go to the movies, think of my kids, playing in the park because we can't afford a movie. And Sunday, when you take your family to brunch, think of my kids, because that's the day we will have our ice cream bar. All weekend, I will have reminded them, 'On Sunday, we get our ice cream bar.'"

And for my daughter who was called, "the foster kid" until I adopted her.

Thank you for a beautiful post.