Your support helps this grandmother feed her family

The rising cost of living in Eastern Massachusetts makes it hard for many low-income families to put food on the table. It’s even harder with three generations under the same roof.

Joan, 67, and her retired husband, both disabled, welcomed their son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren into their South Shore home. However, it proved a tight fit, and the multi-generational family moved to a larger apartment in Plymouth.

With a bigger household, the family’s food budget became overstretched.

“Being disabled and not working put a real big strain on us financially and we needed some help,” Joan said.

Shortly after moving to Plymouth, Joan started supplementing the family’s weekly food budget with trips to the Plymouth Salvation Army food pantry. One of 10 local member agencies, the pantry receives roughly 85 percent of its food from The Greater Boston Food Bank.

“The food pantry has been a godsend,” Joan said. “It’s been a huge help to us.”

Joan takes home six bags of food every month for her and her family, which helps them get through the month on the family’s limited income.

“We get meat, vegetables, milk, all nutritious stuff,” she said.

Her grandchildren especially love the fresh fruits and vegetables. Her 12-year-old grandson’s favorite is beets, and her 10-year-old granddaughter’s is brussels sprouts.

“It helps our family eat a well-balanced meal, which is especially important when you have little kids,” Joan said. “They need to eat right. The food pantry’s been a lifesaver for our family.”