When contemplating the concept of people going hungry, you may conjure up images of Third World countries, people living in shacks with dirt floors, and children that are far too thin. The reality is the folks who don’t have enough food are living in your neighborhood and look very similar to you and me. The only difference is many of them have had a number of challenging situations stack up in such a way that they are unable to provide for their family, much less themselves. It is not the end of the world if you have to care for a sick loved one, or your car breaks down, or you lose your job, or you fall ill, or suddenly become a single parent. These things happen, BUT if you are confronted with a constellation of difficulties simultaneously, your ability and resources to cope are diminished. With the state of the economy these unfortunate situations are becoming more and more common and are occurring much “closer to home”. Thanks to the help of non-profit organizations like Food Bank of the Rockies, people have a place to turn for food, when there is nothing in the cupboards. It doesn’t solve all of their life problems but it is one less thing to worry about. Peer into the Faces of Hunger below. Get a sense for who they are and what they are up against.
Vikki
Vikki was visiting a food pantry for the first time when we sat down with her. She lost her job during the summer of 2009, discovered she had stage 3 cancer in November of that same year and has since taken on the responsibility of caring for her disabled father. During their year of hardships, her husband’s work hours began dwindling and insurance costs went up. Vikki hasn’t been able to get adequate medical coverage due to her “pre-existing” condition. Following five months of cancer treatment, her family was forced to file bankruptcy in July, 2010. They are days away from losing their home and remain two months behind on bills and mortgage payments. They cannot find a way to catch up. Her four year old son is her driving force and it’s because of him that they finally came to the conclusion they need help. The food pantry she visited will provide one less worry for Vikki and her family.
Christy
Christy and her husband took over the family painting company after her husband’s father passed away suddenly. Once a lucrative business, the company fell on hard times with the troubled economy. Christy, her husband, young daughter and mother-in-law are trying to keep up on bills, but are struggling to put food on the table. They’re currently waiting for food stamps and are trading services for painting as a creative way to make ends meet. Simply going out for painting bids is difficult with the price of gas. They’re having a baby any day and worry about how they’re going to manage all that life is throwing at them. Christy relies on a local food pantry to ease worries about feeding her family and is grateful for the help. This family resides in the 7th wealthiest county in the nation. Imagine that.
Rita
Rita’s fiancé passed away last June. And she lost her job shortly after. She and her four children have been trying to make ends meet ever since. Rita lost her car and she couldn’t keep up with utilities, rent, gas…you get the drill. She’s been on hold for receiving food stamps for months, so she comes to a local pantry for food and clothing for the kids. And for a sense of family. They try to make it without asking for help, but that’s been pretty tough lately. But she smiles and laughs. And she makes it work for the sake of her family.
For more stories like these, thanks to Food Bank of the Rockies, click here.
