EBT

I inadvertently found myself a sherpa on my latest (and unexpected) exploration which involves EBT, an acronym for the California Electronic Benefits Transfer Program, which is the new name of the state program that administers benefits such as food stamps, etc. "Rob" discovered that he'd never gotten his benefits cancelled and has managed to accumulate over $1000 in his EBT account. You get issued an EBT card that works pretty much like a debit card and it will cover food purchases. Last week, he used his card to purchase $80 worth of non perishable items like rice, beans, various spices such as cumin, garlic powder, what have you, and donated it to BK. This week, he purchased all the ingredients for this week's dinner for the homeless later tonight (white chicken chili over rice, for those who want to know).

I discovered that the the program has expanded to allow benefit holders to purchase meals at various fast food outlets, including some but not all franchise chains such as Subway, Domino's, Jack In The Box, Burger King (but oddly enough, not McDonald's). "Rob" invited me to join him for dinner at Jack In The Box last night. I joined him mainly to keep him company, but we ended up doing a little tour of all the various places around Pasadena. I hadn't been inside a J.I.T.B in over 20 years; I visited three last night and eventually tried their filet of fish special for $3.99. This particular J.I.T.B. had a posted sign stating a"loitering" period of only 30 minutes, but we ended up staying there and talking for at least 2.5 hours with no objection from the management. I imagine that the rule is selectively enforced.

Speaking of selectively enforced, Starbucks corporate chain stores do not accept EBT, but Starbucks locations inside other stores (particularly, grocery stores) *may*. There happens to be a Starbucks in east Pasadena located inside a Vons supermarket that could prove to be optimal where you could use your card to get the $1.95 coffee and essentially rent a spot in the lounge area all day and get the free wifi. If you were looking to get the max out of your benefit, I think this would be it.