“I’m such a proud dad. I am really grateful for what I have, and I try to spread that to the girls. I want them to know how to be confident in themselves first,” Kurt shared. “When you know who you are, you aren’t affected by negativity.”
Kurt has his three daughters at the heart of his being. They are his purpose for living at this stage. A single dad, he even moved them from Alaska to Spokane in 2019 to give them more opportunities for success. “Everything I do, I do for them. I try to never say ‘No’ to them if it something we can make happen,” Kurt said.
Ranging from eight to 13 years old, the family is very close, and they do everything together. Kurt stays active in the community and in their lives. The girls are also highly active, taking part in mentoring programs and doing Tae kwon do to help them build self esteem and confidence. All three of them recently achieved their Yellow Belt status.
There was no way for Kurt to know that the move to Spokane at the end of 2019 would be before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Like so many, times were challenging for the family, and while Kurt had moved from Alaska with the promise of employment as an entrepreneur, it was tough to cover their bills. Kurt took advantage of opportunities that were available, wanting to make sure his family didn’t go without. They received food assistance benefits, and he learned about SNAP Energy Assistance, getting over $700 to help cover his bill in 2021.
Despite challenges, Kurt kept his effusive sense of humor. “I bring humor into everything we do,” Kurt explains. He has even tried his hand at stand-up comedy at the Spokane Comedy Club.
Kurt was reintroduced to SNAP recently when he met the new Outreach Team at a resource fair at Rogers High School. Ty Peterson, Outreach Specialist, talked with Kurt about the new Washington Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), helping him find out how to apply to receive a refund. Ty recalls, “I had a great time talking to Kurt, as he really wanted to share his story. It was obvious how dedicated he is to his family. I am glad I was able to inform him about the WFTC, and hearing that he was to receive the full refund amount is amazing. This is why we are spreading the word about this opportunity – to help families get access to support they earned to meet their needs.”
Today, Kurt and the girls are doing well. He works a sales role for a local dog food company, and his employers give him lots of flexibility so he can be available before and after school for them. This balance of work and home life ensures he is there for them, which is working as the girls are excelling in school and their extracurricular activities.
“I’m such a proud dad. I am really grateful for what I have, and I try to spread that to the girls. I want them to know how to be confident in themselves first – when you know who you are, you aren’t affected by negativity.”