MARCH 22, 2024 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR GROUNDCOVER NEWS Obama Phones for low-income and unhoused people Barack Obama was elected Lonnie Baker, vendor No. 99 In one sentence, who are you? "A man of God." Where do you usually sell Groundcover News? 12 - 2 p.m. on Saturday at 4th and Catherine, and 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Sundays at Thompson and William. When and why did you start selling Groundcover News? In 2013 I had no job and no money. I was unemployed and broke. I needed food and shelter. What is your favorite thing to do in Ann Arbor? Meet and greet the community while selling Groundcover. What words do you live by? Do unto others as you want others to do unto you. What is something about you that someone on the street wouldn’t know? I have a dog. She is a boxer and pit mixed Brindle; her name is "Eden." She will be five in June. What motivates you to work selling Groundcover News? The income that I receive from selling Groundcover News is needed to keep my household afloat. If you could do anything for a day, what would it be? Blessing people that needed to be blessed. If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken, baked potato, broccoli, corn, black eyed peas and cornbread! What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you while selling Groundcover News? I have had a customer buy all of the papers that I had on me on more than one occasion. What was your first job? Selling "Ebony” magazine, Jet magazine, and the Michigan Chronicle newspaper, which was all one package. I was 12. What changes would you like to see in Washtenaw County? More affordable housing in Washtenaw County. I'm talking about housing affordable to a person working at McDonald's, Taco Bell, Meijer, Walmart or Groundcover. What would you do if you won the lottery? My first investment would be in my brand. My second investment would be a house. What song do you have completely memorized? I know the song "Amazing Grace" through and through. What’s the best way to start the day? I like to start my day in the spirit of Thanksgiving, giving thanks. What would you become famous for? My reparations project and empowering the native Black American who are the descendants of the slaves who built this country. President of the United States of America in January 2009 and served two terms as President until 2017. Nowadays more than 6.9 million Americans have an Obama phone, as free government phones are now often called. Many people don't know the first president to start the Lifeline Program for affordable phone service was Ronald Reagan. Lifeline Program is a Federal Communications Commission’s program, established in 1985, intended to make communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. Lifeline provides subscribers a discount on monthly telephone and broadband service purchased from participating providers in the marketplace. Safelink Wireless offered the first free cell phone service in Tennessee in 2008. That means that the first free government cell phone was distributed during the Bush administration. But still, two administrations after the presidency of Barack receive SNAP benefits and/or Medicaid, you qualify. For the last two years, I used MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 Obama, they are still referred to as Obama phones. Low-income households qualify for free or low-cost cell phone service under the Lifeline program. Lifeline is offered by major carriers such as Assurance, Safelink, and Access Wireless. In addition to the free smartphone, Lifeline provides voice, text and monthly minutes. How do you see if an individual or head of household qualifies? You simply go on any of the major carriers' websites and fill out an application, or you might encounter individual contractors on street corners distributing free cell phones and tablets. It is an easy and short process. If you an Obama phone. I used the phone carrier Q-link Wireless, and service was good until around a year later when my phone service cut off. As a result, I went without phone service for about two months because I needed to reapply for a new phone service. Then I started getting emails from all the different phone carriers who provide Lifeline service. I came to the conclusion that Lifeline phone service is good if you have no means to pay for phone service. Phone service helps people communicate and move forward toward employment or other means to be able to afford a monthly phone bill. Lifeline phone carriers often give customers unreliable and poorly made devices. I would advise those with Obama phones who can afford it to upgrade to a paid monthly service if you want to avoid phone service interruption and to be able to use your phone to its greatest potential. 3 Elder I’m trying to say what’s never been said before. I’m not a mentor. Call me an elder if you must. I’ve a story to tell that’s not been told before. I know things that are hidden that I know are true and I want soon to share them with you. As time goes by as the end is near I must unlock my thoughts. I owe the world a story and maybe someday I’ll have a chance to tell it. I have to tell you the most hurtful things and things that WAYNE S. Groundcover vendor No. 615 are full of joy; as the story goes on it’s about love and humanity. When I get to the end it's all I want to see. I won’t get a second chance to say it so gather round and let an elder tell his story full of joy and sorrow because there will be no tomorrow. These might be promises unfulfilled. But when I feel like I’m feeling now, I feel like I can rule the world. Be ready to hear my tale whenever it’s told.
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