Koko’s Journey to Finding Her Community
As the morning sun started to rise, Kolisa ‘Koko’ and her husband were among the first to join the walk-up line at United Food Bank’s Thanksgiving Distribution. Despite the chilly morning air, Koko’s optimism and radiant smile brought warmth and kindness to the line.
For many years, Koko and her husband called Mississippi home. As their family grew with the arrival of four children, Koko began to feel that their neighborhood was no longer a safe place due to the increasing violence in the area.
“It’s been a struggle,” reflected Koko. “We were going through a lot where we were from with a lot of violence. My kids couldn’t go outside to play, couldn’t go to the park, so we wanted a change.”
About a year ago, Koko made the life-changing decision to move to Arizona, where her family can have more opportunities. But the transition wasn’t easy. After arriving, they ran into issues where her husband had to be separated from the rest of the family for a period of time. This left Koko in a difficult position where she had to provide for her children alone.
After being unhoused for some time, Koko learned to lean on the kindness of strangers to help her through this transition. Today, with her husband back by her side, Koko and her family are beginning to lay down roots in Arizona, all thanks to the community’s support.
While Koko’s journey has had some challenges, she remains determined and optimistic about her future. Inspired by her love of cooking, she dreams of one day attending culinary school. More than that, Koko aspires to pay forward the kindness she has received to help others who need it.
“The small thing you might think is a little small thing, but you don’t know how you’re impacting someone else,” said Koko. “I hope one day that I can give back. It is a real beautiful thing.”
For those in a similar situation to Koko, “Don’t be scared to get up and accept the help because there are nice people out there who want to help. Find those people you will see how blessed you are,” said Koko.
Her story is a testament to the power of Arizona’s heartwarming and supportive community. With your support, Koko and her family are building brighter futures. To help families like hers, visit unitedfoodbank.org/donate.
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