my thoughts on welfare...what's your story/thoughts?

Today was an interesting day. We decided that it's was time to sign up for welfare. It's been a terribly difficult last year and it was taking everything we had to make ends meet and they still weren't meeting... when I was younger I was taught that we are above that. That no matter how bad it gets you don't ask for hand outs and you figure it out yourself. Well I think I have come to disagree with this. I have payed my taxes for a few years now and I think I have decided that this is my/our payback for being good citizens over the years. People shouldn't feel ashamed for asking for help that's how blessings come to you! Don't get me wrong I believe in working hard but sometimes you need help and that is ok! I'm putting this on here because welfare is a topic that comes up from time to time. Should people on food stamps be able to buy organic and have healthy options?, or Things like the post on whether someone should have to work a minimum of 20hrs a week to be on welfare... I used to think they maybe were fairly lazy people who didn't like to work hard. Welp we work very hard, my mom is a single mom of four kids trying to make it work, with ruined credit and a $200,000 IRS tax debt  left over from my step dads company. I got to say this is the is the most carefree I have felt in a really long time! To know that the kiddos will have the school snacks they need that they can come home and have a good dinner. To know that we will have enough money to have gas to get them to school! That my sister can finally get her school choir dress and the things she needs for that! This I feel is what welfare was meant to do it help you make ends meet when you sometimes fall a little short and THAT is something you shouldn't feel bad for!