It’s an exciting time for Dee and her husband, Mark. They just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary and their daughter, Zoe, 6, just started kindergarten. Although it’s bittersweet to watch their little girl take this important step in life, they’re so proud of her and the person she’s becoming.
“Zoe’s a handful…she’s going to be a go-getter,” Dee says, adding with a laugh that, “she’s like her mom.”
Things haven’t been easy for Dee and her family for a while now. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years ago, Dee has been unable to work. Right now, the family’s only income is from Mark’s job. Under different circumstances, this might be enough to cover their monthly expenses, but with the high cost of Dee’s health insurance premiums, it’s not always possible to make room in the budget for everything they need…including enough healthy food for Zoe.
To get around, Dee walks with a cane, but she doesn’t let her medical condition — or her family’s financial situation — dampen her spirits. She always tries to have a positive attitude despite recent setbacks, including the loss of her family’s SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Dee says she’s a very savvy shopper, always buying day-old bread and the things that are on sale. Her talented brother is even making all of Zoe’s school clothes so she doesn’t have to buy anything new. But losing their SNAP benefits was a major blow to the family’s food budget, and Dee just couldn’t stretch their limited income any further. That’s when she reached out to the Marysville Community Food Bank, a Food Lifeline partner agency near her home. Without this resource, Dee wouldn’t be able to prepare the balanced meals Zoe needs to grow and learn.
Thanks to your gifts, Dee knows her daughter will never have to go to bed hungry, and it’s such a relief. With all of Dee and Mark’s other financial concerns — like paying their rent and keeping up with constant medical bills — it’s comforting to know putting healthy food on the table is no longer on that list.
While Dee and Mark work together to cut costs wherever they can, they’re grateful to have a helping hand in their time of need. Every day, they’re reminded of what your generosity to Food Lifeline means to their precious daughter’s future.
“Thank you very much,” Dee says. “Without this, there are a lot of people who wouldn’t have anything.”
