EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA.
feeding hope: Mary’s story – temple baptist church, august 27
FEEDING HOPE: MARY’S STORY
“I don’t even know if I’m going to work. I don’t know what I’m going to do because I drive a school bus. I have absolutely no idea.”
With uncertainty about how schools will operate this year due to the pandemic, Mary’s unsure when she’ll be able to return to work. “I know maybe we’re driving meals, I think, but I don’t know how that’s going to look because everyone in my family is high-risk as well.”
Mary’s husband is out of work too, so their family of seven have been attending Mobile Market food distributions to help ease the burden of medical bills and general expenses. Some of their neighbors have been feeling financial pressure from the pandemic as well. To help the other families in the neighborhood, Mary and her daughter have brought both of their cars to the Mobile Market event.
“That’s our friend,” Mary said pointing to the car behind them in the line of cars waiting for the distribution to start. “My daughter’s actually in the passenger seat, but it’s her car.” Mary said they know two more families who don’t have transportation that they’ve driven to food distributions. She also shares the food her family can’t use due to food allergies. “That’s what I will do. I will share whatever I can’t use because I’m not the only one. I’m not going to be selfish. I refuse to be selfish.”
Mary hopes that she’ll be able to return to work soon. Until then, she plans to attend Mobile Market events to help stretch her tight food budget. The relief she feels crossing items she receives at a distribution off her grocery list is welcome during such a stressful time.
Even amid her own challenges, Mary says she’ll continue to help other families in need get to the distributions. “I appreciate it, and I’m glad I have been able to bring others.”
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A Thanksgiving Thanks – November 17
Thanksgiving, known for bringing together cherished ones over a festive meal, embodies not only the joy of togetherness but also serves as an occasion to express and spread gratitude. As we reflect on gratitude, we at Second Harvest want to send heartfelt thanks to the pantries and meal programs that tirelessly serve our communities.
Service to Country and Community – November 10
The Bite2Go program rallies people from a diversity of backgrounds around the simple belief that no child should go hungry. Our donors and volunteers come from the business world, the faith community and a variety of civic groups and clubs; they range in age from 9 to 90.
As Nov. 11, Veterans Day, approaches, we’d like to take time to thank a special group — our veterans — and acknowledge the multiple ways they serve our program and our communities as they once served their nation.
What My Internship Taught Me – November 3
Food insecurity. It is a term we so often hear, but many of us never really understand because we are lucky.
We have never skipped a meal because we can’t afford one or questioned when we will eat again. But it’s a reality for thousands of our neighbors.
They have to make impossible choices about whether to buy medication, pay rent, keep the power on, and put gas in the car — or buy food for the week.
And while I knew that people around me were making these choices every day, I never understood it until working with Second Harvest.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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