“SNAP helped me with rent, furniture, cooking utensils, and toiletries. To them, it might not have seemed like a big deal, but to me, it was life-changing.”
Larry – SNAP Client
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? FROM RETIREMENT TO RENEWAL
By Nicole Bishop
I went to hand Larry his coffee as SNAP reconnected with him several years after he initially told his story. He shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not used to being served,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m usually the one doing that!”
We first met him in 2019, where he shared the multitude of ways SNAP helped him when he needed it the most. In 2012, SNAP helped him when he found himself unexpectedly homeless. His girlfriend moved out and left him to cover the rent on their shared apartment. With all their furniture and belongings gone, he had to seek refuge at a local shelter. “I lost everything except my clothes,” he recalls.
During this tough time, Larry relied on the shelter’s support and woke up at 4 a.m. each day to work and fulfill his shelter chores. It was at the shelter that a case worker connected him with SNAP, which provided crucial assistance.
“SNAP helped me with rent, furniture, cooking utensils, and toiletries. To them, it might not have seemed like a big deal, but to me, it was life-changing,” Larry says.
With the stability SNAP provided, Larry was able to complete his AA in HVAC at SFCC and worked as an HVAC installer. He was proud and honored to have forged this new career path that gave him a sense of purpose. Unfortunately, a back injury led to early retirement. During this period, Larry was a retiree on a fixed income, receiving SNAP energy assistance to help manage his finances.
Larry’s journey exemplifies the spirit of SNAP’s programs—he received help from SNAP when he needed it and used that support to build a stable life. Now, he is dedicated to offering others the same hand up he once received.
“Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you’re done,” Larry asserts. “I may not save the world, but I can make a difference for one person today!”
When we first caught up with Larry in 2019, we discovered his special gift for crocheting. His beautifully crafted blankets, hats, and scarves were shared with Project Warm-Up to help keep his neighbors warm during the cold winter months.
In present day, Larry’s life has taken new turns. While he still crochets, he is no longer retired. During retirement, he was “bored and felt lost,” Larry reflects. “It took me a couple of years of sitting at home, crocheting, talking smack, and feeling unsatisfied before I realized I needed to do something more.”
Larry, who had been working since he was 13, felt that retirement was akin to being “put out to pasture.” A friend introduced him to Meals on Wheels, where his volunteer role quickly evolved into a paid position. Today, Larry runs the Silver Café at the MLK Family Center, ensuring that his aging neighbors receive not only a good meal but also the respect and kindness they deserve.
“Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you’re done,” Larry asserts. “I may not save the world, but I can make a difference for one person today!
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