When you join the German military, you know you will be taken care of. You have solid social security, a good income, health insurance and you will get enough money once you’re retired. The impression I had at a veteran’s day treatment center outreach event was definitely something different. SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,formerly known as food stamps. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s SNAP Outreach team goes out to places where they can get in contact with people who might be eligible for food stamps and dedicates their time to answering questions and helping the people—in this case veterans— with their SNAP applications.

On this particular day, the SNAP team met veterans of the US military: men who had served their country and were willing to give their lives, knowing the risks they would have to take. Overseas you hear a lot about the way veterans are treated in the U.S. I assumed some of it would be true, but I was absolutely certain that there was probably more drama about it than necessary. Sitting in the conference room and listening to the stories of some veterans changed my mind. The veterans we met were all male and mostly over 40 years old. They had different backgrounds and different reasons for being where they are in life now, but what they all had in commonwas the fear of hunger. It’s the same struggle every day: finding a place where they can get at least one meal. None of them have families to take care of them and most don’t even have a place to stay. We helped nine people complete their applications on that day, in hopes of making a change that will help them get back on their feet.

Imagine you are young and have just finished high school. The whole world is right in front of you and there is nothing that can hold you back from pursuing your dream. You choose to serve your country and join the military. You fight, and you risk your life. Then one day something terrible happens and you’re not able to continue, so they send you home. Civilian life is a challenge for you, because you haven’t been living in this world for a long time. Getting a job is hard and getting a well paying job is even harder. You find that no one wants to hire someone who is disabled or who wouldn’t be able to do their work as fast or as precise as someone who never had to give up themselves for the sake of others. You end up living on the streets. You have little money (or not enough to pay rent) and once you’re in this situation, there is not much you can do to get out of this endless loop. If you ask me, things like this shouldn’t happen, especially not to someone who gave up his or her whole life for the sake of others.

I met fascinating people with heart breaking stories. A 49 year old veteran told us about the three strokes he had and the fourth surgery he’s still trying to recover from. He lives on the streets and has no income at all. When he applied for disability benefits, the doctor told him it would take a while and he would have to wait. Some of the other veterans told us they get benefits of $733.00 a month, but even if they found an apartment that they could rent with the small amount they have at their disposal, there wouldn’t be enough money left for food. The western belief in Christian values teaches us about repentance and second chances, and I really hope that we’re able to put those words into action, because I saw people who paid for the petty crimes they committed, who understood the weight of their deeds and were willing to start a new life but still fail, because they have only met refusal and incomprehension on their way.

Experiences like the ones I had at the veteran’s day event expanded my awareness and compassion. To close one’s eyes to this suffering isn’t going to make the situation better. We’re not saving money, when we’re holding back on support for those who really deserve it, because in the end it will come back in hospital bills, sleepless nights and remorse. I can only encourage everyone to reach out to people like those I met at the veteran’s day event, because it is a treat for your own soul to give back for what they have given you.

A Veteran’s Story

The last thing you want is to be diagnosed with stage four cancer. You won’t just have to fight your way through this tenacious disease, but also through hospital bills, appointments, getting enough money for your medication and trying to stay strong enough, so you don’t just give up on life. What if there is no money to pay hospital bills or medication, no car to drive to your appointments and no roof over your head to get some rest? A 56 year old veteran of the US Army told me the story about his struggle through life.

Born in Louisiana, he joined the Army when he was 19 years old. His US Army service took him to all kinds of different places: Panama, Iraq, Germany and many more. When he finally came back home after 12 years of service, he moved back in with his mother. While in the military he never used drugs, not just because it was strictly forbidden, but also because they tested you every other month. Knowing it was wrong, but being overwhelmed by the freedom that was given to him after coming back home, he let his friend convince him to try drugs. It was one mistake he made, but one with terrible consequences. The veteran got addicted right away, and he found himself selling drugs worth $50,000. One day the then 31 year old veteran received a call from his mother warning that the police were waiting for him.

Sad and exhausted eyes told me about the only choice that was left – run. He went from Louisiana to Little Rock, where without family or friends, he stayed on the streets. He slept under bridges and at train stations and begged for food or even a little bit of money. One day he was presented an opportunity that would change everything: sell drugs in exchange for a place to stay. Although he had been sober for a while, driven by his survival instinct, he accepted and later got caught.

In 2010 he was released from prison. Without a job and because of his involvement with selling drugs, he wasn’t able to receive food stamps, which left him hungry and back on the streets. Now that he has been diagnosed with cancer, the VA hospital provides an apartment for him, which gives him at least the possibility of rest and the safe strength to fight his own battles. He has applied for food stamps once again.

The sad truth is that he will probably never be able to receive these benefits, because the law forbids people who were involved with selling drugs, to receive food stamps, despite the detoxification and other programs they go through. Seeing someone suffer like that, because he made one mistake in his lifethat tragically led to a domino effect of misfortune, made me feel so sad. This veteran’s story is not unique. There are a lot more people out there who share the same fate, but no one is there to raise awareness for their suffering. This is my first step to do so and I hope I can motivate many more, to join me.