Editor, the Advocate:

I was in H-E-B on Sunday evening, and the young man in front of me had a gift box of 15 chocolate-dipped strawberries, three 12-can cases of Coke, some delicious-looking spicy cooked shrimp, three large bags of name-brand frozen vegetables and several other items. I asked him how much the chocolate-covered strawberries were. In the produce department, five were $5.49. He replied that he did not know and that he was paying for them with his food card. I told him that he could not buy candy and soda with his food stamps, and he said, "I can." Sure enough, he did! His groceries totaled more than $75! I am still in shock.

Virginia Sullivan, Victoria