It was a most unscientific sampling of a cross-section of Metairie and Kenner residents.
They cued up in front of the Walmart on Veterans Boulevard on a windy Easter Sunday afternoon.
Most were out of work, and the money they were about to receive from the Federal Government was already designated for something other than a good time after the stay-in-place order is lifted.
“Gotta lookout for the family,” Alex, a young man in his 20s said. “Probably give it to my mom, probably my dad, whoever needs it really.”
Gary, an older man, spoke matter-of-factly about the money:
“Bills, rent, and my wife, family and all. That’s what we’re doing, keep everything goin’.”
Alex is a man with a plan:
“Got some projects to do around the house, painters, spend the money on that. Got to do a little work to the boat, probably buy some fishing gear with it too, depending on what’s leftover after that.”
This gentleman said he would use his stimulus check to divide among his two adult children.
And what he had to say about the time it took, the money is getting here not a minute too soon.
“It was supposed to be here the first, Trump said, you remember?” He continued. “Then it was going to be the sixth and it’s still not here. Now I’m lucky, I have some retirement money, but my kids are in really bad shape.”
Michelle is a hairdresser, she’s been out of work since the initial order on social distancing took effect.
“Pay my mortgage, I’m a hairdresser, I got people calling me, but I say ‘not ready yet, not ready yet!’”
Many are basically using the money to keep sheltering in place and waiting for the sequestration to end.
“Mostly stock up on food and just get some essentials for house and whatnot, just to prepare for being inside,” Mike said. “Mad Money? You know, there are only a few things to do when you’re stuck inside for so many weeks, so maybe a drink, it might be nice.”