Last fall, Susan walked into work expecting an ordinary day. Instead, she was called into her manager’s office and let go from her job. Five years of faithful work ended in a moment.
On the drive home, the shock began to settle into something heavier. As a single mom of three, her thoughts quickly turned to her kids. The bills. The rent. The groceries. She started doing the math in her head, trying to stretch numbers that simply wouldn’t stretch far enough.
For five weeks, Susan cut back where she could—then cut back some more. Meals became smaller and less frequent. She made sure her kids were fed, even if it meant going without meals for herself. During the day, while they were at school, she searched endlessly for jobs—submitting applications and attending interviews, hoping something would come through. Eventually, the weight of doing it all alone became too much.
When Susan first walked up to the food bank last fall, she was fearful and full of shame. She didn’t know what to expect but definitely didn’t expect the kindness, encouragement, and compassion that volunteers extended to her. Instead of judgment, she was met with grace; instead of embarrassment, she experienced dignity.
Then there was the food. There was fresh produce that she could turn into real meals. Dairy, eggs, and pantry staples that she didn’t have to ration so tightly. For the first time in weeks, Susan felt peace that her kids would eat healthy meals.
We haven’t seen Susan in the past couple of months and hope that she found that job she was seeking and a way forward for her family. But her story stays with us.
Susan represents many of our guests, who come upon unexpected hard times and are trying to do everything they can to hold themselves and their families together while managing the anxiety of their uncertainty. If you haven’t already, would you consider making a one-time gift to help us reach our $75,000 Big Day Of Giving goal? Your support makes stories like Susan’s possible, ensuring that when someone walks through our doors, they are met food, dignity, and maybe a sense of peace.
