After unexpected hardships, Kathleen counts on SNAP and her local food pantry for support
Kathleen’s daughter got pregnant at 16. Three days after her daughter gave birth to her son, Timothy, Kathleen started to care for him. Timothy was born with developmental disorders. When he was seven years old, Kathleen assumed permanent guardianship. “He’s my retirement fund,” Kathleen said. “I poured all of the money I saved into him.” The alternative for Timothy was foster care, which Kathleen would never agree to. “I love my grandson, so I had to take him in,” Kathleen said. “Nobody would give him the care he needs. He would have been overlooked.”“Without the pantry, I would be on my own in this fight,” Kathleen said. “I have to fight every time I renew my SNAP benefits to show I need the help. It’s not just me who deals with these issues. It’s all the seniors in the neighborhood. This pantry is helping everyone it can.”Kathleen said although her life isn’t what she thought it would be, she doesn’t feel helpless. “I never give up the mentality that we are the voices that make a difference,” Kathleen said. This is why Kathleen thinks it is valuable to share her story. “Nobody sees that it’s not numbers and statistics, it’s people,” Kathleen said. “These are people lining up at food pantries and applying for money to put food on the table. These are real people.”
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