HOUSTON – A single mother of three was left trying to figure out how she was going to put food on the table this month after her SNAP benefits were stolen.
Claudette Merchant went to buy groceries at HEB on Monday, the same day her monthly SNAP benefits were loaded onto her Lone Star card.
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It’s only when she got to the checkout line that the cashier told her she only had a few dollars on the card.
RELATED: Houston single mom’s SNAP benefits stolen; state says they can’t replace them
Someone managed to wipe her account of nearly $700 in just a matter of hours.
Merchant reached out to 2 Helps You after the state told her there’s nothing they can do the replace the benefits.
We investigated and found out that’s true. Federal funding for stolen SNAP benefits ended last December, leaving Merchant and others who desperately rely on the funds, without any recourse.
After our story aired, KPRC 2 viewers poured into our email, social media inboxes, and voicemails.
They were moved by Claudette’s story and wanted to help.
That includes Houston rapper Trae The Truth.
“Just watching her be in tears and watching her be a single mother trying to raise her kids and everything that she’s working hard for just to be taken away from them,” Trae Tha Truth said. “It’s like, man it only feels right to step out there and be the support.”
Trae Tha Truth partnered with HEB to use their story and take Claudette on a shopping spree to make sure her fridge and pantry were stocked up.
Claudette had no idea the surprise was coming, thinking she was meeting KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding at an HEB for a follow-up story.
Gage Goulding: “Since your story aired, I have had dozens of phone calls and emails and messages to our TV station of people that wanted to help you and help out. And I have a friend here that I want you to meet. I think you might know him.”
Claudette Merchant: “Wow! That’s so nice!”
Trae Tha Truth: “You got a smile, you can do it, cryin’. But we came, we came to bless me and baby Truth (his daughter). So, look, I got way into your story. Definitely gotta give a lot of love to Gage, you know, for spreading the word. But what we’re doing now, I’m partnering up with H-E-B, they’re gonna let me use the facility, and me and Baby Truth gonna take you shopping for you and your kids.”
She walked every aisle, filling up the shopping cart with everything from bread to brisket and even bratwurst.
Claudette grabbed everything she needs to stock up for more than a month.
“I told her she can’t be being shy. I told her load that cart up with a bunch of good food,” Trae Tha Truth said.
After checking out, the $800 worth of groceries filled up nearly three shopping carts.
But that’s not all.
Trae Tha Truth: “that’s a gift here, a gift from me and True. You sure you got it? I got a lot of gifts today. Yeah, there’s still quite a few more gifts coming to you. Yeah, still there. That’s my Bumpboxx, yeah. The gifts don’t stop giving. Gage, how you feeling?
Gage Goulding: “Whenever we first did this story, there were so many people that reached out to us that were moved by your story, and they said, including Trae, they said how can we help? And this is a beautiful thing, Houston came together because of your story and in here there’s $3,400 in all kind of gift cards. That way you can take care of you, your kids, and your family and you don’t have to worry about anybody stealing from you. You’re going to be taken care of for a while. This is from Houston.”
Claudette Merchant: “Thank you all. Thank you Houston.”
Trae Tha Truth: “That’s why we love our city, man. Houston to the end.”
The State of Texas Health and Human Services Commission is investigating her case but still isn’t able to replace her stolen benefits.
