Watch This: Shopping With Too Little Money

A trip to the grocery store can be a simple exercise (provided you’re not lugging a screaming toddler through the sugar cereal aisle.) But for too many education support professionals (ESPs) and teachers, grocery shopping is yet another reminder of how working for less than a living wage means making tough, unfair choices. As part of its statewide living wage campaign, the Washington Education Association (WEA) posted a short video clip on its Web site in which ESP peer educator Carrie Strom, who takes home about $1,000 a month, visits the grocery store.

In one powerful moment, Carrie explains that she simply runs out of money for food halfway through the month. “There are so many Carries in the world,” says Debby Chandler, an action team coordinator for WEA. See the video at www.washingtonea.org/ static_content/video/07/livwage/ LivingWage.wmv.