As a single mother caring for three kids and a niece, Shelby considers herself a whiz at managing the household budget. She frequents thrift stores when the kids need new clothes, matches coupons with grocery store flyers and finds recipes to use up leftovers so that nothing goes to waste.
“I don’t want people to think I don’t care or can’t care for my kids,” she explains. “Sometimes, all my good intentions just aren’t enough.”
2019 was a rough year for Shelby. She was hit with one health issue after another making it difficult to maintain steady employment at a call center. One day a local church held a food distribution near her mobile home community.
“If it weren’t for them showing up that day, I wouldn’t have had anything to eat,” Shelby recalls. “Instead my fridge was full of fruits and vegetables.”
Shelby found the consistent support she needed at the church pantry until her work schedule became more predictable. She was able to pick up dry goods like cereal and rice, along with meat, bread and produce on a regular basis. “We didn’t miss a beat, thanks to you.”
