OCTOBER 31, 2025 ON MY CORNER ASK YOUR VENDOR How do food stamps impact your life? Food stamps will not be distributed in November due to government shutdown and the Trump administration's refusal to mobilize SNAP-specific contingency funds appropriated by Congress for this very purpose. Read more on page 8. Its a major part of my budget for food. I don't have much of a budget without the Bridge Card. We count on it to eat. My UnitedHealthcare food bonus is helpful, too. — Ken Parks #490 It doesn’t really affect me. I only ever had them right after I was homeless. I have noticed that locations to access to free food have disappeared over the years, though. — Cindy Gere, #279 I don't get them, so not at all. I don't qualify and that doesn't make sense to me. — Wayne S., #615 Greatly. It helps feed my daughter and grandkids. — Glen Page, #407 It makes me scared for society. People do things when they are hungry that they wouldn't do otherwise. I'll definitely be selling more papers this month. — Stephanie Duncan, #66 Majorly. Buy food or pay rent? — Mike Jones, #113 I don't get them, but I wish I did. They make it easier to purchase food. — Felicia Wilbert, #234 They make healthy food accessible. Cheap food isn't food. — Jim Clark, #139 Groundcover Vendor Code While Groundcover is a non-profit, and paper vendors are self-employed contractors, we still have expectations of how vendors should conduct themselves while selling and representing the paper. The following is our Vendor Code of Conduct, which every vendor reads and signs before receiving a badge and papers. We request that if you discover a vendor violating any tenets of the Code, please contact us and provide as many details as possible. Our paper and our vendors should be positively impacting our County. • Groundcover will be distributed October 31st October 31st is a special day of the year. Not because of spooky and scary things, but because of pleasant things. It’s harvest time and a time to praise God and Jesus. It’s a time for treats, your favorite meals and fun times. You can look however you want to look and be whoever you want to be on that special day. It's also very pretty and, most of the time, not too hot. October 31st is a good day for people of all ages — babies, children, DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 teenagers, adults and senior citizens. It's also a good time to decorate buildings and homes. It’s a good time for movie days and movie nights, too. It's also a good time for silly artwork, silly music and other comical things to make you laugh. I like to share candy, popcorn and all types of snacks with my friends and family. It would be nice to have a party at Groundcover on October 31 so friends can get together at Groundcover, too. Those are some good things about October 31st. It's a very beautiful day. Denise: What do you like most about the month of October? Lindsay Calka, Groundcover publisher: The fall leaves, the cool weather and the excuse to eat lots of soup! Denise: How do you celebrate Halloween? Lindsay: I always dress up as a “French press” coffee for Halloween. I wear a beret and a T-Shirt from France, along with my Groundcover News press pass. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 3 Shutdown hurts families like mine I think it's absolutely crazy that just because the government is shut down, the families that count on their food stamps every month to feed their children and themselves are just out of luck. I have no idea what I'm going to do about feeding my babies. I think this government shutdown needs to end so me and thousands of other people don't have to stress about how their children will get their next meal. They already cut my food stamps for no reason months ago; I only get $650 to feed my off, my 2-year-old is the world's pickiest eater ever. I am truly scared about what TABITHA ALMOND Groundcover vendor No. 360 family of four and let me tell you that is not easy. Just one person usually gets almost $300, but me and my family struggle every month with food, and to top it will happen if the government don't open back up soon. I just need everyone to pray that the government gets it together. Hopefully by the time this article makes it into Groundcover the government will be back open and everyone was able to get their food stamps, since there are families like mine that don't have other ways to get food. Thanks for listening to me complain Everyone have a great day! for a voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for more than the cover price or solicit donations by any other means. • When selling Groundcover, I will always have the current biweekly issue of Groundcover available for customer purchase. • I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling the paper or to panhandle, including panhandling with only one paper or selling an issue more than 4 weeks old. • I will wear and display my badge when selling papers and refrain from wearing it or other Groundcover gear when engaged in other activities. • I will only purchase the paper from Groundcover Staff and will not sell to or buy papers from other Groundcover vendors, especially vendors who have been suspended or terminated. • I agree to treat all customers, staff, and other vendors respectfully. I will not “hard sell,” threaten, harass or pressure customers, staff, or other vendors verbally or physically. • I will not sell Groundcover under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • I understand that I am not a legal employee of Groundcover but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. • I understand that my badge is property of Groundcover and will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing the papers. • I agree to stay off private property when selling Groundcover. • I understand to refrain from selling on public buses, federal property or stores unless there is permission from the owner. • I agree to stay at least one block away from another vendor in downtown areas. I will also abide by the Vendor Corner Policy. • I understand that Groundcover strives to be a paper that covers topics of homelessness and poverty while providing sources of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. If you would like to report a violation of the Vendor Code or leave positive review of a Vendor experience please email contact@ groundcovernews.com or fill out the contact form on our website.
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