Meet Your Neighbor, Kayla
Kayla is a powerhouse of a mom, and her husband is a hardworking truckdriver. Together they are a blended family, raising six children.
Managing a large family on one income can be difficult, so Kayla visits the Connecticut Foodshare mobile food pantries to stretch their budget and keep healthy groceries on hand.
“We are able to get things that help supplement in the house, which is huge, especially fruits and vegetables. We are a one income family. We are a large family. Even if I was working it would still help.”
Kayla had been working full-time as an elementary special education teacher until the birth of her youngest child, Lucia, now three. Then came some unexpected news, “Daycare [said] they can’t come back, we don’t have enough teachers. My husband was home with me for two weeks when I found out from the daycare.”
Financial burdens aside, the kids are healthy, thriving, and get to be kids. At home, they are learning about where their food comes from – they are growing a food garden and raising chickens. And on occasion they come with mom to the mobile food pantry.
“Thank you…the stuff we get is amazing. It’s a good way for the kids to try new things. When they help make dinner, if they make it or choose it, then they are more likely to eat it.”
What would family meals look like without mobile food pantries? “Less berries, a lot less fruits and vegetables. This has been so beneficial. We’re able to get a variety of food that we enjoy.”
Connecticut Foodshare provides a safety net for our neighbors who get hit with hardships like this, and we are honored to be able to support families like Kayla’s. Together we can make sure that kids and families have the food they need to grow and thrive. Let’s make sure the safety net continues.
