Above: Neighbors express their thanks and share how they plan to prepare the food they received from Food Bank of the Rockies.
As we prepare to leave 2024 behind and enter 2025, we are looking back at some of the people we were able to nourish thanks to generous supporters like you. From kids living in food-insecure households to care givers sacrificing their own comforts to ensure their loved ones have enough to eat to older adults facing difficult choices due to limited incomes, you helped Food Bank of the Rockies reach tens of thousands of people this year with the nutritious, comforting food they needed. Thank you again, and from all of us here, happy holidays to you and yours!
Francis
At 72-years-old, Francis officially retired, but in reality, she works full-time taking care of her grandson who struggles with learning disabilities and her older brother, who recently underwent leg amputation. She attended a recent mobile pantry distribution in preparation for hosting her family for Christmas.
“It’s getting a little tough to keep things going, you know?” she shared. “This takes a big load off my shoulders. I know my family is going to be able to have a nice meal. Christmas, we all get together. I have eight grandkids and nine great-grandkids, so it’s a big deal. Things like this [distribution] gives people hope. It’s helping them keep the faith, and that no matter how hard it gets, we’ll get through this. And, it really does. It really helps. All these donations help us get through the year, not just a certain holiday. And we can enjoy the holidays with a smile.”
Susan and Karen
Susan and Karen both grew up in Paonia and have known each other since they were 5. The two carpooled together to a recent mobile pantry. Susan shared that this year has been especially difficult after her sister, with whom she shared a house, passed away. If she brings home something she doesn’t eat, she gives it to other families who can use it. Nothing goes to waste.
“I have a neighbor with lots of kids. Anything I’m not going to use I pass on. So, it benefits more than just my household,” said Susan.
Ron
Ron and his wife found themselves in need of food assistance for the first time in their lives this year after his wife underwent several emergency surgeries.
“For a lot of families, it’s about a crisis, not necessarily prices,” Ron shared. “There’s a lot of people that are one big car repair or other repair away from being in a crisis. And that’s what a program like this does: it allows us as a family to step back from the edge a little bit and say, ‘Okay, we’ve got a little more budget. Maybe that’ll help Santa Claus have a little more budget for him as well.’ I’ve heard about this for many years and never, never been in the need to do this. I feel like I should be on the other side of the line volunteering my time, but this year, we needed to seek the help. We’re grateful to have organizations like Food Bank of the Rockies take the lead on this stuff.”
Sarah and Mariah
Sarah and her daughter, Mariah, were near the front of the line at a recent mobile pantry. Sarah shared that in the last few months, it’s gotten especially hard to make ends meet.
“We’ve been struggling really bad with food. We’ve been going to the food banks and everything, trying to just survive. The holidays are not looking really good right now. I don’t think we’re gonna really have more than just a dinner for Christmas. Financially, we just don’t have the money right now. Distributions like this help us eat. Because if not, we wouldn’t, we would be starving. I know that I’m not the only one struggling. There’s a lot of people that are with everything now.”
“I have a neighbor with lots of kids. Anything I’m not going to use I pass on. So, it benefits more than just my household,” said Susan.
