Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
For Trixie Devine, $200 goes a lot further when she shops for children’s clothes secondhand.
“If you take out the money and get it off of Facebook Marketplace, you can get garbage bags full of clothing, your kid’s size for like $50,” Devine said. “There’s no way that I could get more than a couple outfits brand new for $200.”
But that flexibility could change under a proposal being considered by West Virginia officials.
Department of Human Services Secretary Carl Ayers told lawmakers he is considering recommending a separate benefits card that could only be used to purchase clothing.
The idea comes after Ayers said roughly half of school clothing benefits are withdrawn as cash. He said some of those withdrawals are made at ATMs located in bars, hotels and liquor stores.
Health Committee co-chair Sen. Brian Helton said he is concerned the cash could be used for purposes other than buying children’s clothing.
“We can’t stand by and take the chance that a bar, a liquor store, a hotel, that’s the place to go get ATM before you go buy your kids clothes,” Helton said. “I don’t think West Virginians will accept that.”
But Health Committee co-chair Del. Evan Worrell said a cash withdrawal does not necessarily mean the money is being misused.
“Parents take money out and they buy school clothes at Facebook Marketplace, at yard sales, whatever makes sense for them and whatever they think is best for their kids when they’re going back to school,” Worrell said.
Devine said that is the reality for families trying to stretch limited clothing benefits.
“The very next door to the Goodwill in Elkins is a little hot spot and they have an ATM in there,” Devine said. “They say, go to the next door ATM and get the cash and you can get these clothes on the sale or whatever.”
Ayers said the separate clothing card could help prevent funds from being used for other purposes while still providing a benefit specifically designated for school clothing.
For families like Devine’s, however, restricting access to cash could make it harder to shop at secondhand stores, yard sales and online marketplaces.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/proposed-clothing-only-card-could-curb-misuse-but-limit-secondhand-shopping-for-families
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For Trixie Devine, $200 goes a lot further when she shops for children’s clothes secondhand.
“If you take out the money and get it off of Facebook Marketplace, you can get garbage bags full of clothing, your kid’s size for like $50,” Devine said. “There’s no way that I could get more than a couple outfits brand new for $200.”
But that flexibility could change under a proposal being considered by West Virginia officials.
Department of Human Services Secretary Carl Ayers told lawmakers he is considering recommending a separate benefits card that could only be used to purchase clothing.
The idea comes after Ayers said roughly half of school clothing benefits are withdrawn as cash. He said some of those withdrawals are made at ATMs located in bars, hotels and liquor stores.
Health Committee co-chair Sen. Brian Helton said he is concerned the cash could be used for purposes other than buying children’s clothing.
“We can’t stand by and take the chance that a bar, a liquor store, a hotel, that’s the place to go get ATM before you go buy your kids clothes,” Helton said. “I don’t think West Virginians will accept that.”
But Health Committee co-chair Del. Evan Worrell said a cash withdrawal does not necessarily mean the money is being misused.
“Parents take money out and they buy school clothes at Facebook Marketplace, at yard sales, whatever makes sense for them and whatever they think is best for their kids when they’re going back to school,” Worrell said.
Devine said that is the reality for families trying to stretch limited clothing benefits.
“The very next door to the Goodwill in Elkins is a little hot spot and they have an ATM in there,” Devine said. “They say, go to the next door ATM and get the cash and you can get these clothes on the sale or whatever.”
Ayers said the separate clothing card could help prevent funds from being used for other purposes while still providing a benefit specifically designated for school clothing.
For families like Devine’s, however, restricting access to cash could make it harder to shop at secondhand stores, yard sales and online marketplaces.
FULL STORY: wchstv.com/news/local/proposed-clothing-only-card-could-curb-misuse-but-limit-secondhand-shopping-for-families
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
