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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Food sourcing: Where we are now – August 11
Finding food is, and always has been, our top priority. Rescuing food is what fuels our ability to help people facing hunger day in and day out.
Growing food partnerships – August 4
You probably already know that Second Harvest distributes food to people facing hunger in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, but do you know how much food? What types of food or where do we get it? In fiscal year 2023, Second Harvest sourced over 32 million pounds of food, equating to close to 1,000 full semitrailers!
Food Bank Challenges – July 28
It’s anything but comforting to know that food banks across the country are facing challenges that are strikingly similar to those Second Harvest is working to overcome. For many food banks, the need is greater yet the ability to meet that need is becoming increasingly difficult. “Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households’ food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits,” notes Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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