A small family of three was living the American dream. Steven had a good job to support his wife and young son and they had a place of their own. But to this family, taking care of their loved ones was more important.
Although Victoria lived in Lubbock, she constantly traveled to Bartlett, Texas, to look after her mom, who has Parkinson’s disease, and her aunt, who has lung problems. Since taking care of her family was a full-time job, they decided to leave everything they had built in Lubbock and move to Bartlett.
“You come to a point though, it’s either family is everything or family is nothing. That was the deciding factor,” Steven said.
The move depleted the family’s savings. Unable to find a job in Bartlett, the family was left without any income to fall back on and more mouths to feed. Their situation took a turn for the worse when their son, Ari, suffered from intestinal problems and had to undergo surgery when they arrived in Bartlett.
With three members of the family needing medical attention, a single trip to the doctor could be a 40 to 60 mile round trip.
The long drives meant more money spent on gas, and higher summer gas prices weren’t helping. The family went from spending $500 a month at the most in Lubbock to almost $1000 in Bartlett. It came down to food or gas.
“They have to be at their doctors’ appointments,” Victoria said. “It’s basically their life line; it’s what’s keeping them going.”
Unfortunately, gas wasn’t something they could offset, but eating was. Eating less or skipping meals altogether was Victoria and Steven’s only option to make sure that the rest of the family had food to eat.
“We have to make that $20 into an actual $50 bill worth of food,” Victoria said. “Buying boxed food, buying frozen food, it’s sad, but it’s actually a lot cheaper.”
With Victoria’s aunt and mom’s monthly benefits drained by the middle of the month and $5 left in their pockets to buy groceries, the family turned to their nearest Central Texas Food Bank Partner Agency for help.
At the food pantry they received staples like rice, bread, potatoes, canned food, onions and beans that filled their kitchen. Thanks to the Food Bank, the family was able to reintroduce healthier food into their diet as well.
“The Food Bank has been a lifesaver in that it has turned a situation that could’ve become hopeless and living in despair to where we can feed our son, we can feed our family, and we can hold our heads up high,” Steven said.
We can’t help families like Victoria and Steven’s without you. Making a gift right now means you can make double the difference. Help us make sure no children ever have to feel the pains of hunger.
When you donate this summer, you’ll help us provide 1,000,000 Summer Meals that Matter, and have your gift doubled thanks to the Stumberg Family, the Gates Family and WM Medical Consultants LLC. When matched, a gift of $25 will stretch to provide 200 meals - that’s incredible. Make a donation today!
