The air is fresh. Plants are stirring from their winter slumber, and new life is all around us. Mary, a grandmother of six, originally from Cleveland, finds herself optimistic of what this new season will bring her.

By looking at Mary in her white blazer and pearls you would not believe the difficult times she has endured this past year. Mary suffers from severe osteoporosis and osteoarthritis that has left her dependent on a motorized chair and no longer able to work. One year ago, Mary and her husband, who were separated, came to Canton to look at an apartment for Mary. While she was touring the apartment, her husband drove away and abandoned her. He disappeared, leaving Mary without her chair, any money, food or a place to stay.

Mary shared that at that moment she felt very scared and helpless. She turned to a friend for immediate comfort, but later reached out to local agencies for clothes, food and guidance on how to rebuild her life.

Thankfully, Refuge of Hope, an agency that receives food from the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, was there to help Mary in her time of need. Daily meal services helped Mary regain her strength and positive attitude. Mary said, “This place is a lifesaver for me. I don’t know what I would do without it.”

Spring is a season of change and a time of renewed hope. Because of your generosity, today, Mary is brimming with confidence and hope, embracing the many possibilities of her new life.