Penny has a heart for helping others. She’s a mother of three, a grandmother of four, and a former nurse.
Like Penny, her husband’s life was dedicated to caring for others. He spent his career as a nurse tech at a local hospital. But nearly five years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer. A few years later, Penny was diagnosed with scleroderma. Working long days—much of it on her feet—was no longer possible, so she retired.
“I would still be working if I could because I love nursing,” Penny reflects. Though she can no longer work as a nurse, her supportive spirit is nourished by helping her family care for two of her grandchildren multiple days per week.
Together, she and her husband had to learn how to navigate their new life and tighter budget. They earn too much through disability benefits to qualify for SNAP benefits. After paying rent, gas for their car, and utilities, not much is left for groceries. To help stretch their budget and feed her family, Penny visits her local food pantry for nourishing food.
Penny appreciates the groceries, especially meat, produce, and dairy, which can often be expensive at the store. Because of the food pantry, Penny doesn’t have to choose between paying for utilities or buying food.
“We visit the food pantry because it would be rough without it,” Penny says. “We really do appreciate everything we get.”