Lending a hand to others often brings unexpected assistance your way. “I used to volunteer at a food bank in New Jersey. And now it comes around to me,” says Maria, a senior who works part-time. Without full-time hours, she’s unable to keep up with the rising costs, including food. Maria’s story is all too familiar as one in 8 Central Floridians face hunger due to rising … [Read more...] about A Helping Hand for Maria
stories of hope
Striving Forward, One Meal at a Time
"A year ago, I was doing well," recalls Rose as she selects fresh vegetables from a food distribution in Kissimmee. Rose, a dedicated healthcare worker, works six days a week at two jobs. However, despite her hard work, it is not enough to keep up with the inflated cost of living and outstanding medical debt. "Just like that," she says and snaps her fingers, "Debts accrue, … [Read more...] about Striving Forward, One Meal at a Time
You are a Lifeline
Despite our best planning, life happens. Plans change. Maria knows this all too well. When she began to experience vertigo, her doctor told her that she couldn’t drive or go to work. “The situation was hard, very, very hard,” Maria recalls. A friend told her about a food pantry that could help with groceries until she was able to go back to work. “I called and, just … [Read more...] about You are a Lifeline
Serving others through food
Jeremy’s life is defined by service. “Volunteering is my greatest joy,” explains Jeremy. “I like serving my fellow man, especially veterans because I am a disabled veteran.” His service began as an Eagle Scout and later as an Air Force linguist. Since returning to civilian life, Jeremy has found a supportive community and dedicates his time to ensuring that veterans have … [Read more...] about Serving others through food
Moms Make Tough Decisions to Feed Their Families
Every day, mothers make hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions for themselves and their families. As a mother of a toddler and infant twins, Ferayda knows this all too well. She juggles feeding schedules, nap times, the never-ending laundry, and the family budget. “We have to designate a lot of money from our budget for food, especially milk and formula,” explains Ferayda. … [Read more...] about Moms Make Tough Decisions to Feed Their Families
