The Ripple Effects of Kindness

Meet Kathy, who just visited a Marion Polk Food Share pantry for the first time. Struggling with both the impact of a serious health diagnosis and a limited income, Kathy’s life reflects the complex challenges many in our community navigate daily.

Thanks to kind people like you, Kathy enjoys access to fresh produce, fruits, and meat. She is thankful because it feels like a gift, not charity. “You don’t feel like you’re taking from somebody. It’s given in a nice gesture,” she says.

Her journey into hardship began with skin cancer, which she got after many sunny days picking berries and beans under the sun. “It goes away in one place. They amputate it off and then it comes up somewhere else,” she explains, detailing the relentless battle she faces with her health.

This physical struggle is compounded by the emotional and financial burdens of losing her father and managing her mother’s dementia. Kathy has to be careful with her limited funds, often placing food third on her list of necessities. “I wasn’t getting enough food, I get $137 worth of food stamps [a month]. You can’t really buy much on that,” Kathy shares. 

In the apartment right beside hers, Kathy’s sister offers more than just neighborly kindness. They pool their resources, helping each other stretch their limited food supplies and manage daily expenses. Their close relationship provides a foundation of support, ensuring neither sister has to face their challenges alone.

Thanks to our community, Kathy and her sister have found nourishment and acceptance at our local pantries. “I found it very comforting and helpful. I just fit right in there. Nobody made a big deal about anything,” she says.

“When I was there, that was the first time. This little girl and her mama were there and I played with her while her momma shopped,” she recounts, a smile audible in her voice. It’s interactions like these that reinforce the importance of community support and the role it plays in providing food and hope.

Kathy’s ability to overcome challenges is significantly strengthened by your generous support. Each contribution, whether through donations or volunteering, makes a meaningful difference in the lives of people facing tough times.