Food Security United States Project #17969

The Greater Boston Food Bank

by The Greater Boston Food Bank

Project Report | Aug 2, 2017
Heba's Story

By Melanie Gordon | Corporate Relations Manager

The medical costs to save the life of her 4-year-old son, diagnosed with a brain tumor, led Heba’s family to lose their home. When her husband abandoned the family, she became the sole provider for her four children and her two parents.

On the brink of homelessness, Heba began receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits. Two years ago, Heba began working as a paraprofessional at the site of The Greater Boston Food Bank’s School-based Pantry at the Paul Revere Innovation School in Revere. Now Heba, 39, can supplement her overstretched SNAP benefits with fresh, healthy food for her family.

This is Heba’s story.

“I had my first daughter, Seba, in 2001, my son, Pheras, in 2004, and twin boys in 2008. When I was pregnant with the twins, Pheras began complaining of headaches and stopped eating because he felt so sick. Doctors said he had a brain tumor and they needed to perform immediate surgery.

After chemotherapy and all the hospital bills, we couldn’t afford our mortgage, and my husband left me. My parents had come to the U.S. [from Egypt] to help with the children. We were evicted from my home in 2013.

We were about to go into a shelter when I found a job and could afford to rent a small apartment. I received SNAP [Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps] and WIC [Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant and Children], but a few hundred dollars a month wasn’t enough to feed my family.

It was hard going to the grocery store. I was crying from the pressure and didn’t know what to do.

Two years ago, I began working as a paraprofessional at the Paul Revere Innovation School. The pantry here is so helpful. I look forward to it every month. I get carrots, onions, milk, celery, pasta, hummus—many different things. When I bring the food home, my kids’ eyes light up as they open the bags.

The pantry helps so that whenever the food stamps run out for that month, I still have food. I’m not just waiting to get the next month’s food stamps. It also helps me save money.

Pheras is no longer taking any medication, although he still goes to the doctor three times a month. His doctor told me Pheras must maintain a wholesome diet, so I get him apples, bread, fish, vegetables and other healthy food from the pantry.

Everyone in my family loves the pantry. I just want to help my kids and keep them healthy.”

Permalink

May 4, 2017
Laurie's Story

By Melanie Gordon | Corporate Relations Manager

Laurie and Vince

Fifty-two-year-old Laurie turns to the Salvation Army in New Bedford for spiritual and emotional support, as well as for the healthy food her family needs, but sometimes cannot afford. The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) provides most of the food distributed by the Salvation Army's food pantry and meal program.

This is Laurie's story.

"I love the people at the Salvation Army. They've been here for me during the hardest times of my life, especially when my beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Page, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Everybody here loved Paige and made her feel loved as her illness progressed. As our medical bills started to pile up, we knew we could always count on the friendly faces and healthy food. When she died last August, I was devastated. I miss waking up every day and caring for her. I miss her so much."

"Now I live in public housing with my fiancee, Vince, and we're both on disability. Even with food stamps, we don't have enough to buy the food we need. I'm also diabetic and have to eat as healthy as possible. I'm trying to follow a better diet so I can get off my expensive medication.

Vince and I are so grateful to the Salvation Army, and we are involved and give back as much as we can. He's a volunteer driver and goes all over picking up and delivering food. I help out in the kitchen preparing and serving our community meals on Sundays and Wednesdays, and I also sing in the choir.

But what I like most is volunteering at the after-school youth program, where I help the kids with their homework and feed them supper. Caring for them makes me feel close to Paige.

We'll be thinking about Paige at the Salvation's holiday community meals this year. She used to love the full plate of food - mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry suace and corn! Those holiday meals have bcome a tradition for us, and I know I'm wiht family."

The Salvation Army in New Bedford serves 600 people each week. Laurie is like many clients served by our member agencies who have experienced hardships that make it difficult to keep up. Together, we are providing healthy food and safe environments that are making a different in the lives of many.

Links:

Laurie's Story

Permalink

Feb 3, 2017
Ann's Story

By Melanie Gordon | Assistant Manager of Corporate Relations

Ann

Seventy-six-year-old Ann lives on a fixed income in a Newburyport subsidized housing complex. Laid low by a long convalescence, Ann found herself unable to afford the healthy food necessary for her to recover and stay strong. With help from The Greater Boston Food Bank, Ann applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, also known as food stamps. Today, she has enough nutritious food to eat each month, and she can use more of her limited resources for other living costs, such as heating bills and health care.

This is Ann’s story.

“I worked all my life in many different jobs, but eventually settled on teaching art. I believe everyone is innately creative, and I love my work. I even had my own after-school art studio for a number of years, but found it increasingly difficult to earn a sustainable living. But I was lucky to find a home in the housing authority, and I have some social security.

A year and a half ago, I had major surgery with complications, which put me into a rehabilitation facility. So I had less money for food, and it was harder and harder to make ends meet. I needed help, but I was afraid of being judged. Besides, I never thought I’d qualify for food stamps.

Finally, I reached out to my local Council on Aging, and they connected me with The Greater Boston Food Bank’s SNAP coordinator. I can’t tell you how different the experience was from what I’d feared. I thought it would feel punitive and judgmental. Instead, I felt completely understood and encouraged. The coordinator was a godsend. She helped me with the complicated paperwork to apply for SNAP benefits. But it wasn’t just what she did, it was how she did it—efficiently, but with kindness.

Now, SNAP is extending my food budget so that I can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, which are expensive, and plan for healthier meals. I feel a helping hand has been held out to me, and I’m very grateful.

GBFB’s programs for seniors include monthly Brown Bag grocery distributions at 15 partner sites. We also administer the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s nutrition program for low-income seniors, as well as provide information and support to help eligible seniors access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Learn more at GBFB.org/our-programs

Permalink

‹ 1 ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.