Well your very first step doesn't really make sense, given that the USDA, a federal organization funded with 150+ billion dollars a year, has 15 different nutrition assistance programs to provide food specifically "to ensure that children, low-income individuals, and families have opportunities for a better future through equitable access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food".
Why commit crimes and steal food when the taxpayer will literally just give you free food or free money for food.
USDA programs generally (always?) operate by giving money to states, which each have their own eligibility and application requirements. This is the (physical) application form for Alabama:
(There is an online form, but it requires an account.)
Note the last page, particularly "You have the right to have your application acted on within thirty days without regard to race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or political belief. You have the right to know why your application is denied, or your benefits reduced or terminated. You have the right to request a conference or fair hearing either orally or in writing if you are not satisfied with any decision of the county department. You have the right to be represented by any person you choose. You have the right to examine your food assistance case file in relation to any hearing you may have."
Expedited services are available: "You may get food assistance benefits within 7 calendar days if your food assistance household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and liquid resources (cash, checking or savings accounts) of $100 or less; or your rent/mortgage and utilities are more than your household’s combined monthly income and liquid resources; or a member of your household is a migrant or seasonal farm worker."
It is a little known fact that few infants, for example, can survive 30 or even 7 calendar days without food.
It may not make sense, but it happens. People may not know about those nutrition assistance programs. Their local programs may be backed up, can't see them soon enough, or provide them what their children need fast enough.
Your criticism is not as damning as you think. The original comment could have used an innumerable amount of other unfortunate circumstances to reach the same end. It is fortunate for you that you have never been in dire straits, been fired and had to feed a baby, or tried to enroll in a program like that in an emergency, and can instead sit back at a computer and google the USDA and their enrollment websites at your leisure. Many other people do not have your fortunate circumstances, which makes your comment seem tone deaf, out of touch, and in denial of the injustices in our justice system.
Why commit crimes and steal food when the taxpayer will literally just give you free food or free money for food.