Richard was in Amarillo, Texas, after his parents had passed away. He decided to stop at a corner store. It was a simple decision that would completely change his life.
An individual he had never met confused Richard for someone else and opened fire on him, shooting six bullets into his back. Richard’s life would never be the same.
Richard, 40, can’t feel anything from the knees down and suffers chronic back pain. He doesn’t take any pain medication because he doesn’t want to get addicted to medication and he wouldn’t be able to afford it anyway.
Richard went from earning about $1,200 a week working at a foundry company where he fabricated steel and iron, to having no income. Now he is unable to work, even part time, due to his condition.
“With my situation, I’m so limited. I’ve tried to work part-time. If mental issues didn’t hinder me, something physically did. It’s a battle,” Richard said.
Richard relies on the generosity from the community to help him get by, including Food Bank Partner Agencies that offer wrap-around services. With help from Caritas of Austin, he has been able to secure housing and get help with utilities. At St. Ignatius Food Pantry, he receives a voucher that helps him cover his copay.
“I’m not used to any of this. It’s all new to me,” Richard said. “I’ve always been independent, but now I’ve learned that with all these ailments that I’ve got, that I had to reach out to a helping hand.”
Since he is unable to work, he donates plasma, earning $15 to $20 a week. It’s not much, but the money he makes helps pay for his toiletries, personal hygiene items and food.
After learning from his neighbors about a new food distribution that was available, he made his way to the new Mobile Food Pantry site at Bread for All to help supplement the SNAP benefits he receives.
At the distribution he received canned beans, shelf stable milk, pasta, honeydew melons, fresh produce and much more. He loves cooking Mexican food and with the food he received, he’ll be making soup.
“I think it’s great. With the prices of food, it helps me out with my budget, so I can actually have food in my apartment and can have food to eat,” he said.
Though his life has unexpectedly turned upside down, he is grateful for all the help he has received, from housing to food, and keeps a smile on his face.
“I’m so grateful. It’s a blessing. Without this help, I wouldn’t have any help,” Richard said. “Thank you for all the help from everyone, whoever it came from.”
