“The day you came to the college, I don’t know if I ever told you,” Tsai said to his grandma, his voice breaking. “I was having a hard day, and I didn’t realize until you walked in how much I needed you. You called me needing help, but actually, I needed you. As your grandson, I needed my grandma.”

After walking her to her car following the event, Tsai stood outside the college, teary-eyed. That day, both Tsai and Kate got the support they needed—she with her finances, and he with her steadfast presence.

Kate joined Tsai again this fall at a senior resource fair hosted by SNAP. There, she received energy assistance, a heater, and conservation supplies to prepare for winter. With her apartment’s heat unreliable during Spokane’s coldest days, the heater was a lifeline.

“When we got that chill from Alaska, we didn’t have heat for three days,” Kate said. “Bailey [her dog] and I covered up in blankets and kept the oven open to stay warm.”

Now, with the heater, Kate can stay warm safely. Even more than the practical help, she appreciated the sense of connection the event brought.

“It was so nice. I got to meet lots of ladies, and they were all so very nice to me,” Kate said. “I even brought back lightbulbs for my neighbors and told them where they came from—and that my grandson called me about it!”

Tsai, who has worked at SNAP since 2022, started in the energy assistance program and now serves as Outreach Specialist. He takes pride in connecting his grandma and others in the community to resources they might otherwise miss. For Kate, living on $900 a month and not being tech-savvy, Tsai’s guidance is invaluable.

“Even though she didn’t have a lot of money or toys in her house when we were kids, it was filled with love,” Tsai said, reflecting on his Grandma’s home. “There’s a lot of stuff that money can’t buy.”