Posts filed under 'Client Stories'
Experiences from Wheels of Sharing Mobile Food Pantry distributions
As the holidays approach, we’re seeing an increased number of families at all of our Mobile Food Pantry distribution sites. Here’s an inside look from Sherry LeBlanc, Programs Director, at the Mobile Food Pantry distributions last week in Lott, Uhland, Mustang Ridge and Cedar Park.
“Lott is one of our largest distribution sites, where we reached 322 families/371 individuals on Friday afternoon. There were 25 volunteers from various organizations in the community who helped make the distribution a success.
On Saturday, our first stop was Uhland. Although the weather was cold, Fred and I arrived early to find a line of more than 100 families waiting. It’s clear that there is great need in this area. When we finished the hour-long distribution, we served 125 families/445 individuals.
The line of people in Uhland wrapped around the church:
There are lots of children at our Saturday distributions:
After we finished in Uhland, the truck headed to Mustang Ridge. Since the ground at this site is too soft for our truck and the parking is limited, we will be moving this distribution just slightly up Hwy 21 beginning in January. With the slippery state of the distribution site, we ran the Mobile Food Pantry as if it were a drive-through site. Clients drove-up, signed-in and the volunteers loaded the food into the cars. Although the volunteers will be following us to our new, paved site next month, they were very sweet – praying and crying as the truck drove away. We served 43 families/180 individuals with the help of 10 volunteers. We expect to see even more families at our new, larger site.
The food for Saturday included assorted frozen meats, frozen tortillas, fresh potatoes, apples, milk, green beans, spaghetti noodles and sauce, peanut butter and much more!
Here is a picture of our Mustang Ridge volunteers and some of the wonderful food from the distribution:
The distribution in Cedar Park had been rescheduled on account of the holidays. The Wheels of Sharing truck generally visits St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Cedar Park on the fourth Saturday of the month. With the date change, we were expecting a much smaller turnout than the 50 or so families we usually serve at this location.
What a surprise! As the truck drove up to the church, Fred and I were welcomed by a long line of both volunteers and clients. When the distribution ended, we served 91 families/393 individuals. This is almost a 100 percent increase from our regular turnout! I believe that this is a great sign, showing that the word of our presence in Cedar Park is spreading and that the families in need are thankful for the service there.
This picture was taken well after the distribution started and the majority of families had been helped:
39 (give or take a few) of the 42 volunteers that showed up to assist with the Cedar Park distribution:
Do you need food assistance this holiday season? Do you know someone that does? Click here to find out when the Wheels of Sharing Mobile Food Pantry will be in your area.
We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!
Add comment December 22, 2009
Hungry Children. Three Wishes.
It’s the holidays, and these children from Kids Cafe, a CAFB after school hot meal program at the South Austin Boys and Girls Club, have three wishes:
Sophia, 7: “I didn’t eat breakfast today. I feel real hungry,” she says. “When I grow up I want to be a dancer and a singer, like Michael Jackson.”
Sophia’s three wishes: candy, a pickle and an ice cream party.
Amber, 13, says she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. Every day after school, she serves food to her peers at Kids Cafe. “I like helping. It’s fun,” says Amber. “I’ve been here every day.” Amber is diabetic and needs to eat healthy food. “It’s really hard for me,” she says. “My doctor says if I go back to the hospital I might not wake up. That scared me because it’s hard to take good care of myself.”
Amber’s three wishes: make enough money to help her mom pay all the bills, go to Disney World with her family and get rid of her sickness.
Cyrina, 8: “I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up because I love working with animals,” she says. “I love Kids Cafe. It’s the best thing at Boys and Girls Club.”
Cyrina’s three wishes: a dog, a laptop computer and a million more wishes.
Do you have three wishes? What are they?
Click here to learn how you can help other hungry children this holiday season.
Add comment December 17, 2009
Youth making adult decisions, including finding their next meal.
Transition to adulthood can be difficult—especially without any family support. LifeWorks helps men and women 17-23 years old who are homeless, abused, mentally ill or leaving foster care. LifeWorks Street Outreach provides youth with food, assists with housing and job searching, and provides a safe space to build a community of peers. It also serves as an emergency shelter for youth in danger of abuse.
Clients: Caelan Phipps, Sara Bursac, Joshua Preston
“LifeWorks has helped out tremendously,” says Joshua Preston, who started receiving food from them when he was 18. “If there weren’t food pantries like this, I’d be panhandling.” Joshua struggles with bipolar disease and diabetes, without any family support. He uses the food pantry to get healthy food. “The cans of mixed fruit are really helpful when my blood sugar drops,” he says.
Caelan Phillips, 19, came to Austin from Wyoming after she was laid-off from her job. “I really like the people in Austin,” she says. “There’s always people to talk to. I want to go back to college and get a nursing degree. One of the ladies here offered to take me out to the community college and talk to them about financial assistance.” And when we asked her about her own family, she said, “They have a lot of other stuff going on. Money is tight.”
Annette Palmer, LifeWorks staff, and Gabriel Lamb, client
Gabriel Lamb, 22, moved to Austin from Phoenix. He remembers donating food and volunteering at a food pantry with his mom when he was younger. “I’ve been on both ends,” he says. “I remember volunteering a long time ago. I used to sort through food. Nobody is immortal when it comes to these things. Sometimes you really need help.” Gabriel’s mom died last year, and says he appreciates the social support network he has found at LifeWorks.
Can you relate to their story? Click here to share your story with us and to listen to more stories like these.
Add comment December 11, 2009
You can turn hungry holidays into happy holidays.
Gabriella, 9, recently lost her home to a fire. She and her dad lived in a shelter while her dad looked for a new job and home. She rides the bus to school every morning and says “I don’t eat breakfast because my dad doesn’t have time to make it for me.”
She likes spending the weekend with her half-sister, who is four-years-old. “This weekend we’re going to have a sleepover,” she said. Gabriella’s father, who now works at Goodwill, picks her up after Kids Cafe five days a week and brings her home to their new apartment. “Without Kids Cafe,” Gabriella said, “I would feel hungry.”
Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Help turn hungry holidays into happy holidays for children just like Gabriella through these simple ways:
We need your help to make sure Central Texas families have the nourishment they need to live healthy, fulfilled lives. Thanks so much for helping turn hungry holidays into happy holidays!
Add comment December 4, 2009
What would you do with a million dollars?
Elizabeth, 9, says she would give half to the Boys and Girls Club of South Austin and half to other charities. She lives with her parents and three younger siblings.
She says one of the happiest moments in her life was when she met her father, previously incarcerated, for the first time at the age of four. “As soon as he came home,” she recalls, “he picked me up and twirled me around.”
When we asked her how she likes the food at Kids Cafe, a CAFB sponsored program, she says “It’s yummy! The Food Bank puts a lot of time into delivering it.” If there wasn’t a Kids Cafe, she says “I would feel like they didn’t care about us. I probably wouldn’t come to Boys and Girls Club anymore. They know we’re hungry after school.”
Elizabeth hopes to be a doctor or a nurse someday (her mom is currently training to be a nurse). She’s in elementary school and says she is often hungry during the day. “When I miss breakfast, I’m hungry all day,” she says. “I feel grumpy like the Grouch in the trash can on Sesame Street.”
Can you imagine what it’s like to be food insecure? To not know when or where your next meal will come from? Do you know someone that’s experienced or experiencing hunger? We love to hear your stories. Share your comments with us below.
Add comment December 1, 2009
Food Bank Podcasting: Giving a voice to hungry Central Texans
Alese Colehour
Communications VISTA
I have the amazing job of collecting hunger stories from our clients, donors, volunteers and staff, and today I’m excited to introduce our newest initiative: podcasting! Podcasts are downloadable audio files you can listen to and stream online.
Our podcasts feature weekly stories from hungry Central Texans. I ask questions like “How has hunger affected your life?” and “Why is the Food Bank important to you?”
Subscribe in iTunes and start listening today! Tell us about your own experience with hunger, and help us spread the message that Hunger Is UNacceptable.
Louis Blase, Catholic Charites, CAFB Partner Agency
Today’s Feature Story: Louis has a passion for cooking Cajun food. He is a Hurricane Katrina evacuee hailing from the heart of New Orleans. (Listen here.)
Add comment November 5, 2009
Real Story: “He’s constantly hungry…”
Patricia Luna lives with her husband, three children and grandson. Her Food Stamps were reduced from $455 to $195 per month when her 20-year-old son enrolled in Phoenix University online college. “He’s constantly hungry,” she said about her son. “Grown kids eat more than little ones. Two-hundred dollars a month doesn’t get you too far.”
She says she also worries about her diabetic husband. “There are some days he just doesn’t eat,” she explained. “He’s working or doesn’t have time to come home, and now we can’t even afford his medication because we have to use that money to buy groceries. He needs to eat.”
Patricia previously worked as a hotel lobby attendant and now stays at home to take care for her grandson. “My husband told me, ‘You need to be here for this baby,’” she said. She also helps her daughter get to-and-from Del Valle every day where she attends high school and plays volleyball.
“I only need a little help. That’s why I started coming to the [St. Ignatius] food pantry,” she explained.
Patricia brings her whole family to church three times-a-week. “That’s the only thing that’s helped us stay strong— faith in God,” she proclaimed. “God is helping in every way he can.”
Can you relate? Share your story with us in the comments section below.
Add comment October 26, 2009
Real Story: From the eyes of a nine-year-old.
Alex, 9, is the youngest of five children. She says she misses her oldest brother who is in Iraq. Her dad builds houses and her mom works at H-E-B. In her spare time she says she likes to crochet, knit, and make scarves for her friends.
Alex takes the bus from Dawson Elementary to Kids Cafe at the Boys and Girls Club of South Austin five days a week. She says when she goes home after Kids Cafe, she doesn’t eat anything else.
What’s Alex’s favorite part of Kids Cafe? “Eating! And, if you don’t eat healthy, you won’t have enough energy!”
Kids Cafes are safe, nurturing places where neighborhood children can go after school and receive a hot dinner, as well as help with homework from caring individuals. Click here for more information.
Add comment October 7, 2009
