In 1979 I was a single mom with two sons ages 8 and 10. I was working in a factory. I had Medicaid and food stamps to help support us. However, I got repetitive motion syndrome with tendonitis in my right arm; I couldn't move two finger on my right hand. I had to get on welfare until my workers' compensation case was opened.

The welfare grant wasn't flush but it was better then than it is now. We got 125% of the official poverty level. Today, the combined cash and food stamps average about 85% of the poverty level in New York State. We had enough for food, soup and things like that at the end of the month. Now many people on welfare rely on soup kitchens and food pantries during the third and fourth weeks of the month.

After I had surgery on my arm in 1982, it didn't hurt anymore but it didn't work very well either. I was qualified as disabled, but this also meant that I could go to training while receiving welfare. I was told by the training program that I was college material. I was thrilled - and scared. I'd been out of school for 15 years. By now my sons were 12 and 14 and the welfare grant didn't go nearly as far. There was not enough for light bulbs, soap or toilet paper. I collected pop cans to buy toilet paper - eight pop cans per roll. The kids started bringing things home that were not theirs - a baseball glove, basketball, meat in packing boxes. I turned my head. Poverty had undermined my morals.

I went to Monroe Community College after attending college preparatory classes where I met other women, most were on welfare, who were poor but intelligent and we were our own support group. When my college friends went for coffee, I made tea in the ladies room using hot water and a tea bag from home. I worried that people would notice hat I wore the same clothes every day.

For my degree, I started off studying accounting figuring that was where the money was. But one night at church a young women came in severely burned by men trying to force her into prostitution. The pastor and I took her to the hospital and I decided then and there to switch my major to human services.

Today I am a benefits advocate at the Regional Center for Independent Living and also work as a residential rehabilitation counselor, teaching life skills to disabled people in our community. I own my own home and I love it. I have a beautiful garden. However, for those today who turn to the welfare safety net, it is practically impossible to pursue vocational training or education. There are people on welfare who could learn, benefit and contribute if given the opportunity to get training and education. Unfortunately, that is not happening under today's welfare program.