Todd Zimmerman was not altogether happy to be working on Thanksgiving Day. As one of a skeleton staff of five manning the State of Maryland’s EBT Help Desk (the state’s alternative to food stamps), the morning seemed to stretch on. As lunchtime approached, it was hard not to fantasise about the feast his family was preparing, and the laughter and stories that would be told.

Before his lunch break, a call came in from an elderly woman who was obviously distressed. “I was at the grocery store buying food, but my purchase didn’t go through!” she said. “The clerk said the transaction was denied.” Todd knew the questions to ask, and it wasn’t long before he diagnosed the problem: the woman’s temporary card had expired.

“Oh, but … but I hadn’t collected my $10 from October, either! I purposely left it on account to put together with this $10 for a Thanksgiving dinner.” “I’m sorry,” Todd said sympathetically. “Do you have any food in the house?”

“No . . . not really, I was saving up for today. My family thought they were going to be able to come, and I wanted to have a nice meal for them.” There was a catch in her voice. “I guess it’s just as well.”

After she hung up, Todd couldn’t get her off his mind. He realized that because of the error this woman, whom he knew only as “Mrs B,” would not only be alone, she’d also go hungry on Thanksgiving Day, all for want of $20. — Beliefnet.com