This was Pat’s first time visiting her local food pantry — and while she wasn’t quite sure what to expect, she left feeling grateful.

“A friend told me about it,” Pat explains. “That I could come here and maybe get extra stuff for my family.”

Pat is retired and no longer working. Living on a fixed income, she’s feeling the squeeze. Prices at the grocery store have crept higher, and her budget hasn’t kept pace. The pantry helps provide extra breathing room.

When asked what she’d do if the pantry didn’t exist, she answers quietly, “I don’t know … maybe skip a meal.”

That reality is true for so many in the community — and growing. Still, she’s quick to turn the focus to those who make help possible. If she could speak to the donors who support food programs like this one, Pat has just one thing to say:

“Thank you very much.”

READ MORE: Behind the Shelves