Troyshella Randolph a single mother swiftly regained her stolen SNAP benefits and ensured her family’s well-being thanks to media intervention and advocacy.
News Single Mother Triumphs Over Financial Crisis After SNAP Account Hack
Troyshella Randolph, a single mother of three from 8 News, overcame a financial crisis thanks to swift media intervention.
WAVY News recently covered Randolph’s situation after her SNAP/EBT
account was hacked leaving her unable to feed her family.
On May 8, Randolph received her monthly SNAP benefit of $693. She used her card on May 7, but the next day, her balance was zero.
“Immediately I panicked,” Randolph said, shocked by the sudden loss of funds. She knew she hadn’t spent over $600 in one day and worried about feeding her children.
The city’s Department of Human Services told her it would take over 10 days to restore her funds, which she couldn’t afford. “We shouldn’t have to wait for our food stamps if they’re stolen,” she said.
10 On Your Side contacted the city of Newport News and the Virginia Department of Social Services. That night, Randolph’s money was returned.
“After the story aired, my worker contacted me, and the money was back,” Randolph said with relief. “We’re not hungry, everyone’s happy, going to school without worrying about food.”
Photo from google
How Media Intervention Helped a Family in Crisis
Randolph urges officials to prevent similar issues in the future. She still faces challenges like medical appointments for her children but can now provide food for her family.
“I want to thank WAVY News for helping resolve the situation,” Randolph said. “It was something that needed to be heard.”
This story highlights the critical role of media in helping community members in crisis and showcases the resilience of families like the Randolphs.
