From Setback to Support: How Matthew’s Crossing Bridges the Gap for Elena’s Family
In the heart of Arizona, Elena is raising her six children, navigating the challenges of parenthood with a resilient spirit and a deep commitment to her family. With children ranging from a 17-year-old to an 8-month-old, Elena’s days are filled with activity, love, and a constant effort to provide the best for her kids. One of their favorite pastimes is bike riding, a simple joy that brings them together.
Despite her determination, Elena faces hurdles, particularly when it comes to feeding her family. She relies on food stamps, receiving $800 a month to cover their grocery needs. However, earlier this year, she encountered a devastating setback: her food stamp benefits were stolen. “We get about $800 a month. I only used $200 and the rest got stolen,” she shared. “I don’t know how my card got compromised, but coming to Matthew’s Crossing has really been helping.”
The theft left her in a difficult situation, unable to access the resources she relied on to feed her children. This left her with a significant gap in her ability to provide for her family, a gap that has been partially filled by the local food pantry, Matthew’s Crossing.
Matthew’s Crossing Food Pantry has become a support for Elena and her family, offering a greater variety of fresh produce and healthier options, which has encouraged Elena to return more frequently. For Elena, Matthew’s Crossing isn’t just a source of food; it’s a support system that helps bridge the gap left by her compromised food stamp benefits. “This has helped a lot,” she emphasized. The fresh produce and nutritious food options provided by the pantry ensure that her children have access to the healthy meals they need to thrive, despite the challenges they face.
Elena’s experience underscores the critical role that food pantries play in supporting families facing food insecurity. In the wake of her food stamp theft, Matthew’s Crossing has provided a reliable source of sustenance and stability, allowing her to focus on what matters most: her children.
Despite the difficulties she has encountered, Elena remains hopeful and dedicated to her family. “Our kids are our main focus,” she shared. Her resilience and love for her family are evident, and she continues to seek out opportunities to create positive memories and experiences for her children.
Elena also values the importance of family connections beyond her immediate household. With three older brothers, four little sisters, and one little brother, she maintains strong family ties, recently celebrating a family reunion in the mountains this past April. This network of support and love reinforces her commitment to her own children and underscores the importance of community in overcoming challenges.
Elena’s story is a testament to the power of community support and the vital role of food pantries like Matthew’s Crossing. By providing access to healthy, nutritious food, the pantry helps families like Elena’s navigate the complexities of food insecurity and financial instability. For Elena, the support from Matthew’s Crossing has further enabled her to provide for her children and maintain her focus on their well-being.
As Elena continues to navigate the challenges of raising her family, she does so with the knowledge that she is not alone. With the support of Matthew’s Crossing and the strength of her family connections, she faces the future with resilience and hope, determined to create a full and loving life for her children.
United Food Bank and our partner agencies like Matthew’s Crossing appreciate your support in helping families like Elena’s. To find out more about how you can help us this summer in alleviating hunger in Arizona, visit www.azmilionmeals.org.
Written by KC Raguay
