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Feeding hope: jean’s Story
“The kids get to stay with family. They get to stay with us, which is so important,” Jean explained as she waited in her car for a Mobile Market food distribution to begin. Jean was referring to two grandkids they had recently adopted, which brought the number of kids in her house up to 13. “This has been such a blessing from God because we have 13 kids in the house right now!
Jean has been attending Second Harvest’s Mobile Market distributions in the Tri-Cities for about six weeks. She and her husband have taken charge of several of their grandkids to keep them safe in such turbulent times.
“There were some times that, without the fresh vegetables that you provide, we wouldn’t have had any at all.”
“We’re only on one income, and so far we’re doing okay. Our bills are being paid, but we’re struggling with clothes or when the kids get too big for their shoes,” she said. “We try to pass stuff on as hand-me-downs, but you can’t always do that either.”
In order to cut back on expenses, Jean and the kids have been getting creative and trying to have some fun. “We’re recycling and reusing everything and anything we can – all kinds of stuff that you can recycle or repurpose into so many different things. It creates science and craft projects for the kids, and it feels good!”
Still, their family is grateful that groceries haven’t been stretching their budget thinner. “There were some times that, without the fresh vegetables that you provide, we wouldn’t have had any at all,” she said.
Even with 13 kids in the house, Jean has also been picking up for her elderly neighbor. “She has health issues and almost passed away a couple of months ago. She was the one who asked me to go to the distribution originally. That’s what brought me here,” Jean said. Whenever her neighbor sees an advertisement for a Mobile Market event in their area, she asks Jean if she can go and pick up food for her.
“I’m so happy she asked us because it has been helping our family so much, too,” she said. “The people have all been great. They’re nice. Even the waiting is well worth it. It’s been absolutely wonderful.
How to Host a Fundraiser – September 22
Looking for a fun way to celebrate your birthday, company event or holiday? Hosting a fundraiser for Second Harvest is easy and makes an impact. You can raise funds online or host a food drive in person. We’ll give you the tools to get set up, share your event and start collecting. Every dollar donated makes a difference for neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Serving Those Who Serve Our Country – September 15
Steve and his wife both retired from the Army, and he also spent time as a civil engineer in the Navy. His career has been a life of service to our country. Today, he is a member of the civilian workforce at Fairchild Air Force Base.
With economics the way they are today, Steve accesses Second Harvest Mobile Market free food distributions on base.
Naturally cheery, Steve manages a smile even when he explains “Times are hard.” Simultaneously, he proudly adds, “We have two kids, 13 and 14. They eat like crazy and are growing like mad.”
Back to School with Bite2Go – September 8
Bite2Go is a weekend food program for students facing chronic food shortages at home. Bite2Go gives children access to a mix of nutritious, nonperishable and ready-to-eat meals and snacks for the weekend, helping kids return to school ready to learn on Mondays. At the heart of the program is the adoptive organization. Bite2Go relies on businesses, churches and civic groups to “adopt” a school, and through that engagement and funding model, provide students with food for the weekends through the school year.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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