Like myself, people are grateful. I hear people saying, ‘I don’t know what I’d do had it not been for the food pantry’ or ask, ‘where would I get food to help my children.?’ A lot of people are really grateful.

The Food Bank is really a blessing. They are helping the poor, and they are helping the needy. I think that’s really good that people got a heart.

I pay all my bills. Then I have to put up so much a month for property tax, for flood insurance, and stuff like that and so the social security I get dwindles. There’s a lot of time I don’t turn on my heat because I know I can’t pay a big old bill. It’s just me. I don’t cook a whole lot anymore because of the price of groceries. I used to buy a pack of bacon for $9 and now it’s almost $20. On $31 of food stamps, I can’t do that. So, I depend on the Food Bank a lot.

If I didn’t have the Food Bank, life would be very difficult. I don’t think people realize how easy it is to struggle from just one event. You can have it one minute and the next minute, you don’t.

At first, I was embarrassed, but then I realized everyone is like this right now with the impact of the pandemic and economy. I never would have expected something like this to happen to us. I am 57 years old taking care of our 7-year-old granddaughter. I’m very thankful for the food pantry.

The food bank is very important now. With all the prices going up and I’m not able to work right now, it’s hard. But by the grace of God, I make it through. These people are just a blessing. They make sure everyone has something.

Sometimes you just don’t have enough money to buy groceries. When you’re on a fixed income, no matter how much or how little, it always means a lot when you get something that can help you have a balanced meal.