Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 3211 The Greater Boston Food Bank 2016 Annual Report The Greater Boston Food Bank 2016 Annual Report 12 Our work has changed lives forever, for the better. Michelle Needham, Massachusetts Michelle raised five children on her own, supporting them and putting them through college. Once her own children were grown, she found herself with custody of three of her grandchildren due to hard- ships her daughter experienced. Caring for and raising her grandchildren was unexpected, and Michelle quickly found herself struggling to make ends meet, “If you don’t know where your next meal is coming from and the kids are looking at you and they’re hungry—what can you tell them?” She turned to the Needham Community Council pantry for help and now visits the pantry once a month to supplement her food supply with healthy food for nutritious meals, “I’m so thankful. I’m a whole lot further than I was before. Sometimes people just need help to get them through.” Laurie & Vince New Bedford, Massachusetts Laurie and Vince were on disability when their 10-year old daughter, Paige, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Laurie felt lucky to have the Salvation Army in New Bedford, “as the medical bills started to pile up, we knew we could always count on the friendly faces and healthy food.” The family was devastated when Paige passed away, and shortly after, Laurie was diagnosed with diabetes. They still receive food from the Salvation Army to supplement their budget with nutritious items. Through a healthy diet, Laurie is hopeful to be able to soon cut back on her medication. Laurie and Vince are grateful for the support they have received and are dedicated to giving back in the ways they can. Laurie volunteers at the Salva- tion Army’s after-school youth program, and Vince is a volunteer driver, picking up and delivering food to others. Jose Framingham, Massachusetts Jose is 45-years-old and has worked hard his whole life. Several years ago he endured a stroke that left him unable to work. He also suffers from diabetes and congestive heart failure, which makes managing his medical bills along with rent and other expens- es extremely difficult. Jose has been going to the Salvation Army Food Pantry—one of GBFB’s member hun- ger-relief agencies—for about a year. “The food pantry makes it easier. They provide the food I need, and that’s one less thing I have to worry about.” Jose wishes he had known about the pantry sooner. “I went about a week with absolutely nothing to eat. I thought I would never see myself in that situ- ation. And when it happened I didn’t know what to do.” Staci Lynn, Massachusetts A single mother, Staci works full-time as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but still can’t afford enough of the nutritious food her daughters need to stay active and healthy. Staci has held steady jobs her entire life, even while studying for her CNA license. However, she struggles to get ahead because prices increase while her income remains the same. Each month, she supplements groceries with fresh produce and other nourishing foods from GBFB’s School-based Pantry at the Connery School in Lynn, “Most people don’t realize that just because you’re going to a food pantry, it doesn’t mean you’re not working or unwilling to work. Compared to when we didn’t have the pantry, I’ve noticed a positive difference in my girls’ grades at school. In addition to the healthier foods, I think it’s because I’m not as stressed about everything, so they’re not as stressed.”