Jason is an aspiring computer programmer. Once he’s done with his degree, he wants to try his luck in Austin, the booming tech city. For now he’s focusing on his classes at Texas State Technical College Waco in McLennan County and trying to get by each month.
It hasn’t been easy for Jason. His current school schedule is making it hard for him to find part-time jobs that work with his classes.
Since he pays for school out of pocket, making ends meet has been difficult. He’s on a tight budget and is barely able to pay for rent and his expenses. This semester he was forced to take fewer classes, but he’s staying positive and trying to focus on school.
“I’m barely paying everything; I don’t have enough money for any luxury,” Jason said.
Jason lives frugally and tries to keep his expenses as low as possible, which means cutting down on what he eats and getting by on rice and pasta.
One day while he was at school, he noticed a line of people at the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry on the school’s parking lot. Since then, thanks to the Food Bank, Jason can have a complete balanced meal to help keep him full and allow him to concentrate on school.
“I get chicken, vegetables, onions, and cabbage...I think the food is good. I just cook it, everything. I usually just cook them, mixed vegetables and the chicken. I just put it in the oven,” Jason said.
At the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantries, our neighbors are able to get a mix of food-like staples, fresh produce and protein-to help them lead healthy lives.
Thanks to amazing supporters like the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, we’re able to help individuals like Jason worry less about where their next meal will come from.
In the past two years, the insurance organization has donated $60,000, the equivalent of 240,000 meals, to help the Food Bank reach families across our 21 county service territory.
“They’re doing a really good job, supporting low-income people. I think it’s really good,” Jason said.
Thank you, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, for your dedication to fighting hunger.
