A few years ago, one of our neighbors, Rebekah, encountered some serious health issues and couldn’t work. “I became very sick, very quickly,” she said. “I went from math camp teacher, tutor, full-time mom, full-time college student, to sleeping 20 hours a day and having trouble holding my head up.”
She knew her family needed a little help, so she bravely reached out for the first time to her nearby food pantry. “I’ve had to go to the food pantry in the town I grew up in and accept food from people that grew up knowing me, and I didn’t feel judged by any of them,” Rebekah said. “That’s an amazing feeling to have that for anyone who needs help.”
Typically filled with joy, the upcoming holiday season is also filled with additional expenses, making it harder to afford nutritious meals. When one of our neighbors encounters an unexpected crisis, like the medical issue Rebekah faced, the joy turns to additional stress.
In mid-Michigan, we are currently witnessing a 25% increase in the number of households needing Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) resources compared to this time last year, mainly due to inflation. For many families like Rebekah’s, not only do holiday meals feel out of reach, but even providing everyday meals is a financial hardship.
With your support, Greater Lansing Food Bank will continue to distribute nutritious food to neighbors experiencing hunger in seven mid-Michigan counties we serve every day of the year, not just during the holidays.
Please donate today to help those like Rebekah during a time of unexpected hardship. Your generosity will help more than 10,000 households every month receive nutritious meals, no matter what crisis they are facing.
Rebekah’s health issues are thankfully now under control, and her husband Zach will be applying to finish his residency. “I knew I could look to somebody and say, ‘I need help,’ but I also know the people around me will ask me when they need help – everybody helps everybody. I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else.”
Together we can give the gift of joy to neighbors right here in mid-Michigan. Please give.