Our Development Director sat down with Marie, a past food bank participant who wanted to share her experience and why it is okay to ask for help.
Marie is a single mother of two daughters who came to Northshore Food Bank when she was newly separated and needed to find a way to make ends meet. Unfortunately, her job cut back her hours, her soon-to-be ex-husband was not covering expenses for their daughters, and she could no longer afford basic necessities. Her church provided her with information on resources, including how to register with Northshore Food Bank.
When asked to describe her first visit to Northshore Food Bank, Marie fondly recalled the kind and comforting nature of Mrs. Verna, one of our long-time volunteers who has since moved away. Mrs. Verna's support gave Marie hope during a difficult time. “She gave me a prayer card and told me it would be ok. The food bank is here to help.” Something about the interaction made Marie feel as though Verna understood what she was going through. She didn’t come away from the experience feeling ashamed; she came away feeling like things would get better. “When you are down, the only direction you can go is up,” says Marie. In addition to food, she provided her with toiletries and information on other area resources so she could get the help she needed most.
Marie was a food bank participant for approximately one year and is grateful for the food provided during such a challenging time. “Every time I picked up my box, the volunteers were so welcoming and sweet. The food provided helped alleviate the stress of not knowing where our next meal was coming from.”
One of the reasons she chose to share her story is to let others know it is okay to ask for help. She often finds herself encouraging other newly single moms to utilize available community resources. “It isn’t forever,” she says, “so don’t be afraid to get help when you need it.”
Since this experience, Marie has looked at life through a different lens. She now recognizes that there are so many that do without or don’t have enough. She is active with her kids’ school and makes sure there are always snacks available for them to share with their friends; she and her daughters are active as volunteers in the community and at their church. She also organizes an annual food drive to both give back and teach others the importance of providing food to those that struggle to put enough on the table.
Marie hopes that by sharing her experience with Northshore Food Bank that it will encourage others to feel comfortable asking for help when they need it.
