Woman Gets Accused of Being A Hoarder For Buying $1,100 Of Groceries, Explains That She’s Actually Buying For 6 Families
The authorities have already announced—there’s no shortage of food. Yet the panic buyers can’t keep themselves from stripping the shelves of grocery stores and hoarding obscene amounts of toilet paper and canned goods in their homes. This unprecedented buying has left many vulnerable people, such as the elderly, disabled, and healthcare workers without much-needed items. While many of those who understand the problem have already started to give snarky looks to the seemingly insensitive people at the stores, there’s also another side to the story.
More info: Facebook
During the time of crisis, a woman named Stephanie Rhymer Whitaker just taught everyone a lesson of how to be kind
Image credits: Stephanie Rhymer Whitaker
Recently, a woman named Stephanie Rhymer Whitaker went viral for showing that not everyone who buys a lot of food these days has bad intentions. After being called a “hoarding ass b***h,” Stephanie was compelled to reveal the reason why she had just bought $1100 worth of groceries in one day. Apparently, the woman decided to help out those who were struggling to shop for themselves.
After being judged at the store for ‘food hoarding’ Stephanie reveals the real reason she bought so much food
Image credits: Stephanie Rhymer Whitaker
Image credits: Stephanie Rhymer Whitaker
Image credits: Stephanie Rhymer Whitaker
Stephanie’s post quickly went viral and now has received over 40k likes and 28k shares. Hopefully, her story will teach us to be more kind and helpful to each other.
Here’s how people reacted
366Kviews
Share on FacebookI like this! More people need to be less judgmental about this. Unless you see these same people selling TP for $5 a roll out of the back of their car or online...keep your mouth shut.
Or, like my one neighbor, $100 for a 12-pack of cheap beer...
Load More Replies...I know exactly how this feels. I've been shopping for an 83 year old recovering from cancer surgery and a young man with severe cerebral palsy and I've had to endure dirty looks from people who are quick to judge.
Screw those people who are giving you dirty looks. You are helping people in need.
Load More Replies...Considering numerous a*s hats out there who did go batshit and hoard, under the current climate, I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to think that when they see that much stuff in one person's cart, but I probably wouldn't say anything because, well how do I REALLY know that;s the case?
I was thrilled to see this story! As a child of a WWII and grandchild of Depression Era grandparents we were raised to make sure we had plenty of food in the house. We learned how to garden and how to fish...how to preserve our food. 60+ years later I still keep at least of month's worth of supplies. My neighbors know to ask if they need something. A couple of us garden as well and we will be sharing that as well. Over the years I've learned it's always better to share. There is something to be said for sharing as well. Right now it can be hard to share, if not fearful of running out of supplies. The amazing thing is that when you share your supplies go further and at night you can lay your head on the pillow and drift off to sleep with a happy heart. Life is about loving people and helping people. ♥
I'm from the same era, and I have been teased numerous times for having enough food in my house to feed a regiment at the drop of a hat. I am just simply carrying on in my mother's footsteps, and she was born in 1900 so went through two world wars, and the depression.
Load More Replies...Thank you, teacher. This is incredible. Before judging, people should get the story. This is a rose among many thorns, good news among bad.
I have two preteen boys that do some serious eating. What lasts us a week or so would probably last a a family of two almost a month.
This is great! Sadly people typically judge someone before they know why, (It’s human nature) but some people are just jerks, like selling hand sanitizer online for ridiculous prices.
We have been unfair about a lot of people. Une of my few neighbours got home with a full trunk. He saw me and said "This way I don't have to step a foot out of my home, be safe"
My husband has asthma and i feel terrified because if he gets sick, i might lose him. We did our shopping for supplies to last us a while before everyone even realized they might have to get something to stock up on... He's the shopper of the house and i prepare everything, but even if i was the one who went shopping, i could infect him if i picked the bug by going out to do that.. I worry constantly about others having enough and we both invited fam and friends to tell us if they need anything because most of them didn't believe corona was even anything more than exageration when the news blew out.. Should i feel terrible for trying to be safe before panic shopping even was a thing? We spent the last of our money to get what we needed to last us a few months, 1000£, canned goods, tp and tomato sauces.. because we knew that, if anything, prices will go up at the very least and we wouldn't afford anything later on.. and if we need to not go out, it'd be safer.
And, yeah, my husband is still risking it going out there to work every day to do data retrieval and fixing items for police, medical, navy, etc, and he's told he's a key worker at the company as so few are left at the building itself while others work from home, but nobody realizes that they, the ones still there, are working hard still.. and nobody outside of the company recognizes that they come in contact with potentially viruses items to work on, or as 'key workers', officially. So, no, i don't feel bad about doing my best to have him avoid going to stores and out on the streets. He risks plenty already, too.
Load More Replies...Be careful about making snap judgments - you don't know all of the circumstances.
I work @ Walmart & we hear the same 3 excuses constantly: we only have 1 buggy, but it's for 2 families, Im buying for my elderly neighbors, I have a big family This is said because the newish rules are: 1 pack of pourer paper, 1 pack of paper towels, 1 cleaning product, 1 beef, 1 chicken, 1 pork. I'm sure there are valid instances, but these come up so often to the point you know some of them are full of s**t. If you want a 2nd item then make sure you bring another adult so she can get a 2nd buggy if you're using those reasons, other than that, don't scream & cuss at us since we make $11 / hourly & don't get paid enough for your s****y tantrums.
If you've gotten to the level that you're suspicious and judgmental of other people's grocery buying habits, you SHOULD stay in your own home. Maybe for a few years. Even if it was all for her household, there could still be reasons they need a lot of food. Maybe they're a foster family. Maybe they took in their elderly parents and have many visitors who come to see them. Maybe a family member died and they now have custody of their children. You can't know and it isn't as if we're actually being rationed, so mind your own damn business.
Before all this started, i had a mild flu and by the time i recovered, i find all the stores close; the lockdown didn't gave me chance to by anything for my health or food. If it wasn't because every month i buy my stuff (including toilet paper) to last me a full month.... i'd be in deep s**t literally. I previously bought meds for emergency cases and it's what i've been relying now. And as a light out of this horrible tunnel, i found a place where to get my a meal which i can make it last for 4 days. So no. I don't think that there's a problem with hoarding if it is for your own needs. It IS a problem if you plan on selling them to earn a profit out of selfishness. So knock it off! Grab what you can for YOUR needs. It's better safe than sorry. Protect yourselves while it's early.
Some people are hoarding groceries, however there are people who want to help others. Don't judge someone until you know their story.
If I'd been called a hoarder I would have told the c**t to mind her own f*****g business cat-5e8fc5...c79af3.jpg
well, how could one get I idea that she is hoard buyer when she only took a few of those goods? Isn't the issue of hoarding, buying big amounts of the same item?
Steph, I’ve always admired you (a fellow pea) and known you have a huge heart. Your positive and giving nature is an inspiration for me, and I’m sure for many others. I love what you said about the fact that we should automatically assume someone is has the best intentions (and are more than likely just doing a kindness for someone)rather than think badly of them. That should be everyone’s default assumption. The world needs that positivity right now more than ever. Thank you for setting another good example.
But why post it? I just don't understand the need to tell the world on social media
Wow, she got out of Costco for ONLY $1100! I know when I go there just to pick up a couple of items it's over $100. And, did people look at her cart? That's not hoarding! If she bought 100 cases of 1 item, that would be akin to hoarding.
People thinking of others, helping those in need and not thinking, "What's in it for me?". We should all strive to be those people.
The distance between kind people like this lady and the opportunists who are trying to make a fortune from desperate people is like he distance to the moon, but how does anyone tell which is which? I wouldn't know how, would you? Even if you asked, a thief (and they are thieves, make no mistake, they are taking people's money by taking advantage), they would no doubt say 'I'm buying for my nan/neighbours/disabled children.
My family ran out of groceries right as panic buying started. This lady in front of us in line gave us smack for buying 3 (1.5lb) packs of chicken. Which is a normal shopping trip for us because we buy for 2-3 weeks at a time. Meanwhile she had 2 32 packs of TP in her cart.
really enjoying the very much needed thinning of our stupid herd. Too bad you need to rape our earth mother to get the gas and oil to tootle ariund in your privileged per-mobile, What per really needs so much overprocessed c**p food like frappucinos and salty club crackers? PBJs are really nutritious and quite filling. sheesh. don't dislocate your arm patting yourself on the back because the health care system has slightly bigger priorities than your obese meat carcass.
I don't think hoarding would be applicable to this situation... even if I saw the person with a cartload of groceries like that. It's the trolleys that have a stack of the same item that I would find curious... like an entire trolley full of TP (I am a Costco member in the UK).
Glad to see she restocked her Margarita mix. It's a time for priorities.
I went through this too. I have some elderly neighbors, plus a mother, and a grandmother that all needed groceries. My brother and I got lists and went to the store and shopped. I got called names, I got cussed at, my brother had things thrown at him. We didn't buy anything out, we didn't take anything from anyone. We made sure the shelves were not empty and we still didn't get everything on our lists (no eggs ANYWHERE), but we did manage to get eight households what they needed to get by for about two weeks. We met back up at my house to sort everything and had the police show up because someone called and said we were selling food out of my garage. When the officers saw what we were doing, they helped us deliver the boxes.
Mean while I (with my invisible disability pain ) can not buy kitty litter. Nor hand sanitiser. ......... because someone like them bought the shop out ???
There is a difference in people stockpiling kitty litter and hand sanitizer to people buying enough food for several families.
Load More Replies...My basketball coach always said "assuming things just makes an *a*s* out of *you* and * me*"....... I always giggled at him but he was sure right!! Keep your head up Stephanie!! You are truly doing god's work and I'm so happy there are still people like you in the world!!
Even if it was all for her, I haven’t heard of any shortages on Townhouse Crackers or Starbucks Frappuccino.
Have to say, I'm pretty sure, there were at least 10 people that criticized her before she explained and were acting all nice to her after she did...
I wish I had someone like that to get some shopping for me. Wheelchair-bound and housebound living alone and coming up for 80 yrs old, with the next online delivery slot not for another two weeks.
My local area has set up a mutual aid network to help with health/grocery errands for high risk individuals and caretakers. I found out about it through Reddit.
Load More Replies...I think, under the circumstances I would have made sure people knew what I was doing. Unfortunately because of the hoarding behavior done by idiots, it makes everyone think that's what's happening. You might think you shouldn't have to explain your actions, however common sense should make you realize that many are quite tense and stressed. I'm certainly glad there are kind and selfless people willing to help their friends, family and neighbors. God bless you.
Most people who seem to be hoarding, are hoarding. If you feel the need to defend yourself, you feel that what you are doing is wrong. We shop for a whole week, car is loaded, I don't care that people call me a hoarder, I know I'm not. I don't feel the need to defend myself. I think it's good people call out hoarders, even if they are wrong every now and then.
I like this! More people need to be less judgmental about this. Unless you see these same people selling TP for $5 a roll out of the back of their car or online...keep your mouth shut.
Or, like my one neighbor, $100 for a 12-pack of cheap beer...
Load More Replies...I know exactly how this feels. I've been shopping for an 83 year old recovering from cancer surgery and a young man with severe cerebral palsy and I've had to endure dirty looks from people who are quick to judge.
Screw those people who are giving you dirty looks. You are helping people in need.
Load More Replies...Considering numerous a*s hats out there who did go batshit and hoard, under the current climate, I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to think that when they see that much stuff in one person's cart, but I probably wouldn't say anything because, well how do I REALLY know that;s the case?
I was thrilled to see this story! As a child of a WWII and grandchild of Depression Era grandparents we were raised to make sure we had plenty of food in the house. We learned how to garden and how to fish...how to preserve our food. 60+ years later I still keep at least of month's worth of supplies. My neighbors know to ask if they need something. A couple of us garden as well and we will be sharing that as well. Over the years I've learned it's always better to share. There is something to be said for sharing as well. Right now it can be hard to share, if not fearful of running out of supplies. The amazing thing is that when you share your supplies go further and at night you can lay your head on the pillow and drift off to sleep with a happy heart. Life is about loving people and helping people. ♥
I'm from the same era, and I have been teased numerous times for having enough food in my house to feed a regiment at the drop of a hat. I am just simply carrying on in my mother's footsteps, and she was born in 1900 so went through two world wars, and the depression.
Load More Replies...Thank you, teacher. This is incredible. Before judging, people should get the story. This is a rose among many thorns, good news among bad.
I have two preteen boys that do some serious eating. What lasts us a week or so would probably last a a family of two almost a month.
This is great! Sadly people typically judge someone before they know why, (It’s human nature) but some people are just jerks, like selling hand sanitizer online for ridiculous prices.
We have been unfair about a lot of people. Une of my few neighbours got home with a full trunk. He saw me and said "This way I don't have to step a foot out of my home, be safe"
My husband has asthma and i feel terrified because if he gets sick, i might lose him. We did our shopping for supplies to last us a while before everyone even realized they might have to get something to stock up on... He's the shopper of the house and i prepare everything, but even if i was the one who went shopping, i could infect him if i picked the bug by going out to do that.. I worry constantly about others having enough and we both invited fam and friends to tell us if they need anything because most of them didn't believe corona was even anything more than exageration when the news blew out.. Should i feel terrible for trying to be safe before panic shopping even was a thing? We spent the last of our money to get what we needed to last us a few months, 1000£, canned goods, tp and tomato sauces.. because we knew that, if anything, prices will go up at the very least and we wouldn't afford anything later on.. and if we need to not go out, it'd be safer.
And, yeah, my husband is still risking it going out there to work every day to do data retrieval and fixing items for police, medical, navy, etc, and he's told he's a key worker at the company as so few are left at the building itself while others work from home, but nobody realizes that they, the ones still there, are working hard still.. and nobody outside of the company recognizes that they come in contact with potentially viruses items to work on, or as 'key workers', officially. So, no, i don't feel bad about doing my best to have him avoid going to stores and out on the streets. He risks plenty already, too.
Load More Replies...Be careful about making snap judgments - you don't know all of the circumstances.
I work @ Walmart & we hear the same 3 excuses constantly: we only have 1 buggy, but it's for 2 families, Im buying for my elderly neighbors, I have a big family This is said because the newish rules are: 1 pack of pourer paper, 1 pack of paper towels, 1 cleaning product, 1 beef, 1 chicken, 1 pork. I'm sure there are valid instances, but these come up so often to the point you know some of them are full of s**t. If you want a 2nd item then make sure you bring another adult so she can get a 2nd buggy if you're using those reasons, other than that, don't scream & cuss at us since we make $11 / hourly & don't get paid enough for your s****y tantrums.
If you've gotten to the level that you're suspicious and judgmental of other people's grocery buying habits, you SHOULD stay in your own home. Maybe for a few years. Even if it was all for her household, there could still be reasons they need a lot of food. Maybe they're a foster family. Maybe they took in their elderly parents and have many visitors who come to see them. Maybe a family member died and they now have custody of their children. You can't know and it isn't as if we're actually being rationed, so mind your own damn business.
Before all this started, i had a mild flu and by the time i recovered, i find all the stores close; the lockdown didn't gave me chance to by anything for my health or food. If it wasn't because every month i buy my stuff (including toilet paper) to last me a full month.... i'd be in deep s**t literally. I previously bought meds for emergency cases and it's what i've been relying now. And as a light out of this horrible tunnel, i found a place where to get my a meal which i can make it last for 4 days. So no. I don't think that there's a problem with hoarding if it is for your own needs. It IS a problem if you plan on selling them to earn a profit out of selfishness. So knock it off! Grab what you can for YOUR needs. It's better safe than sorry. Protect yourselves while it's early.
Some people are hoarding groceries, however there are people who want to help others. Don't judge someone until you know their story.
If I'd been called a hoarder I would have told the c**t to mind her own f*****g business cat-5e8fc5...c79af3.jpg
well, how could one get I idea that she is hoard buyer when she only took a few of those goods? Isn't the issue of hoarding, buying big amounts of the same item?
Steph, I’ve always admired you (a fellow pea) and known you have a huge heart. Your positive and giving nature is an inspiration for me, and I’m sure for many others. I love what you said about the fact that we should automatically assume someone is has the best intentions (and are more than likely just doing a kindness for someone)rather than think badly of them. That should be everyone’s default assumption. The world needs that positivity right now more than ever. Thank you for setting another good example.
But why post it? I just don't understand the need to tell the world on social media
Wow, she got out of Costco for ONLY $1100! I know when I go there just to pick up a couple of items it's over $100. And, did people look at her cart? That's not hoarding! If she bought 100 cases of 1 item, that would be akin to hoarding.
People thinking of others, helping those in need and not thinking, "What's in it for me?". We should all strive to be those people.
The distance between kind people like this lady and the opportunists who are trying to make a fortune from desperate people is like he distance to the moon, but how does anyone tell which is which? I wouldn't know how, would you? Even if you asked, a thief (and they are thieves, make no mistake, they are taking people's money by taking advantage), they would no doubt say 'I'm buying for my nan/neighbours/disabled children.
My family ran out of groceries right as panic buying started. This lady in front of us in line gave us smack for buying 3 (1.5lb) packs of chicken. Which is a normal shopping trip for us because we buy for 2-3 weeks at a time. Meanwhile she had 2 32 packs of TP in her cart.
really enjoying the very much needed thinning of our stupid herd. Too bad you need to rape our earth mother to get the gas and oil to tootle ariund in your privileged per-mobile, What per really needs so much overprocessed c**p food like frappucinos and salty club crackers? PBJs are really nutritious and quite filling. sheesh. don't dislocate your arm patting yourself on the back because the health care system has slightly bigger priorities than your obese meat carcass.
I don't think hoarding would be applicable to this situation... even if I saw the person with a cartload of groceries like that. It's the trolleys that have a stack of the same item that I would find curious... like an entire trolley full of TP (I am a Costco member in the UK).
Glad to see she restocked her Margarita mix. It's a time for priorities.
I went through this too. I have some elderly neighbors, plus a mother, and a grandmother that all needed groceries. My brother and I got lists and went to the store and shopped. I got called names, I got cussed at, my brother had things thrown at him. We didn't buy anything out, we didn't take anything from anyone. We made sure the shelves were not empty and we still didn't get everything on our lists (no eggs ANYWHERE), but we did manage to get eight households what they needed to get by for about two weeks. We met back up at my house to sort everything and had the police show up because someone called and said we were selling food out of my garage. When the officers saw what we were doing, they helped us deliver the boxes.
Mean while I (with my invisible disability pain ) can not buy kitty litter. Nor hand sanitiser. ......... because someone like them bought the shop out ???
There is a difference in people stockpiling kitty litter and hand sanitizer to people buying enough food for several families.
Load More Replies...My basketball coach always said "assuming things just makes an *a*s* out of *you* and * me*"....... I always giggled at him but he was sure right!! Keep your head up Stephanie!! You are truly doing god's work and I'm so happy there are still people like you in the world!!
Even if it was all for her, I haven’t heard of any shortages on Townhouse Crackers or Starbucks Frappuccino.
Have to say, I'm pretty sure, there were at least 10 people that criticized her before she explained and were acting all nice to her after she did...
I wish I had someone like that to get some shopping for me. Wheelchair-bound and housebound living alone and coming up for 80 yrs old, with the next online delivery slot not for another two weeks.
My local area has set up a mutual aid network to help with health/grocery errands for high risk individuals and caretakers. I found out about it through Reddit.
Load More Replies...I think, under the circumstances I would have made sure people knew what I was doing. Unfortunately because of the hoarding behavior done by idiots, it makes everyone think that's what's happening. You might think you shouldn't have to explain your actions, however common sense should make you realize that many are quite tense and stressed. I'm certainly glad there are kind and selfless people willing to help their friends, family and neighbors. God bless you.
Most people who seem to be hoarding, are hoarding. If you feel the need to defend yourself, you feel that what you are doing is wrong. We shop for a whole week, car is loaded, I don't care that people call me a hoarder, I know I'm not. I don't feel the need to defend myself. I think it's good people call out hoarders, even if they are wrong every now and then.
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