Today I talked with a neighbor in the Food Pantry who is getting back on his feet after a serious workplace back injury. After several surgeries and complications, he ultimately lost his job due to his new physical limitations.
He told me, “Losing my job was so hard, especially losing my health insurance. For the past few months, I’ve had to adjust to living without my regular medications. I just found a new job, but I will have to take a pay cut from what I made before.”
He told me that the Food Pantry has been a critical resource for him: “I am always so grateful when I come here. Other than the healthier options I get here, I usually just eat peanut butter sandwiches and whatever is on the discount aisle.
“Everyone else in my neighborhood is really struggling too,” he said. “This isn’t the land of milk and honey anymore. Even though I always feel that fear in the back of my mind about running out of food, I invite my neighbors over and tell them to take some home. I always encourage them to come to GraceWorks for help.”