“You Have the Choice to Be Someone’s Community”

Kimberly, also known as Kim to her friends, has always been the one who helps others. As a contract paralegal, Kim specializes in navigating parents and children through the foster care system. Through her line of work, she would form deep connections with the children. In particular, she formed strong bonds with two children, a boy and a girl, who over time became part of Kim’s loving family.

Like many families during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim’s household was hit hard. At the time, Kim’s household consisted of her, her husband, her special needs brother, two foster children and three adult children who had to move back home. So, when her husband lost his job and Kim saw her own work opportunities disappear, the sudden loss of income made it challenging for her to make ends meet. Kim found herself needing to find ways to supplement her family’s needs. After conducting extensive research, Kim sought help from the United Food Bank, which provided food boxes and a variety of foods through drive-through distributions at the Mesa Convention Center.

Eventually, when the pandemic lifted, Kim needed to find alternative ways to feed her family. This is when she found H.O.P.E. Outreach, one of United Food Bank’s partner food pantries located in Mesa. Having been accustomed to mobile distribution, receiving food in person was a daunting experience for Kim. She was concerned about what others would say about her.

“When I first started receiving food from United Food Bank and H.O.P.E., I was embarrassed because of that stigma,” admitted Kim. “I didn’t want my family to know where I am getting this food. I think not only is it a stigma that the community puts on people, but it was a stigma within myself.”

But Kim couldn’t have been more wrong. When she first arrived at H.O.P.E., Kim recalls being greeted with smiles and kindness. But most importantly, there wasn’t any judgment. In fact, H.O.P.E. became a safe space. Every time she came to the food pantry to receive food, the volunteers at H.O.P.E. would remember her and ask about her family’s well-being.

“I felt like not only they weren’t judging me because I was here, but they genuinely cared about me and wanted to know more about me and my family,” Kim shared.

Over the next couple of years, Kim would continue to receive food from H.O.P.E., as needed. And when her husband lost his job again, she would wait in line for food weekly. But this time around, Kim didn’t want to just receive food; she felt compelled to pay it forward by volunteering and helping families like hers experience the same support and hope she found.

“I want to let our [neighbors] know that they matter,” shared Kim. “We put a lot of pressure and shame on ourselves, and I don’t want to add to anyone’s shame. If anything, I want to help lift them in the way I was lifted.”  

And this is precisely what Kim has been doing ever since.

During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, H.O.P.E. distributed over 278 tons of food and served 1,246 households. From Kim’s perspective, one of the significant reasons why this is possible is through H.O.P.E.’s partnership with United Food Bank.

Now, Kim gets to be on the other side of the line, helping to pack food boxes and asking clients how their families are doing and if they got the job. This love for serving the community has even rubbed off on her 10-year-old adopted son, who jumps at any chance to volunteer. One of his favorite things to do is push carts and load food boxes into cars. As a mom, Kim hopes that her son’s time at H.O.P.E. has instilled in him a lifelong love for helping others.

“He sees the good that we are doing in our community. I am teaching my son to give back the way I was given to.”

Kim later added, “You have the opportunity to choose what kind of impact you want to have on the lives of others.” 

And to think, none of this would be possible without the kindness of a stranger. That one gift and act of kindness created a ripple effect, one that continues to nourish families, restore hope and inspire others to give back.  In the words of Kim: What kind of impact do you want to have? 

During the season of giving, your support of United Food Bank can create that ripple effect, stretching far beyond a single meal. Consider donating at give.unitedfoodbank.org.