May 2022 Newsletter
Lindsay Stayton Photography
Letter from the President & CEO
As spring turns to summer, we’re all getting outside more.
That means we’re seeing more of each other, fostering more of a sense of community. That’s a pretty great feeling after a winter spent mostly indoors … and even more so during a pandemic.
Community.
I love that word, and I mean more than people living in proximity. One dictionary defines community as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” That’s what I mean.
Zoey’s Wish
When that final bell of the school year ends, children burst out the doors, buzzing with delight. It’s summer vacation! But for many children, there’s not much to celebrate, because summer can be synonymous with hunger. Many kids who qualify for free (or reduced-price) meals in school are suddenly facing a few months without that service.
But that’s where your support comes in. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and its partners serve children and families all year round through a variety of programs. Children like Zoey are thankful. At Zoey’s house, there’s not always enough food for the whole family. Her parents sometimes skip meals so the kids can eat. “And that makes me sad,” says Zoey, 8, one of five children.
A Grateful Family
When Sharima, a single mother of two, first started volunteering at her local food pantry five years ago, she didn’t expect to one day need its services. She had a job, but money was still tight.
“There came a time that I started classes, kids got into the teenage zone, appetites were high,” she says. “My groceries, bills, and everything, it just wasn’t adding up.”
“I Like It a Lot!”
More than 30 years ago, Thoupo and her family came to the United States seeking refuge from the war in Cambodia.
After she emigrated, Thoupo began working in a factory. The workplace initially accommodated her disability, which requires her to sit down intermittently. But after 25 years, the factory’s policies changed and Thoupo’s chair was taken away, forcing her to leave.
Retiree and Volunteer Rock Star
Retirement hasn’t slowed Claudine down one bit. A former teacher at Appleton West High School, Claudine continues to volunteer regularly in her old school district and at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.
Claudine’s work with the schools has given her a larger sense of how hunger affects people, especially students. That’s one reason she regularly supports the food bank, both financially and as a volunteer.
“Thank Goodness This Is Here”
Holly had a good job as a manager at a fast-food restaurant. But the combination of her pregnancy and the pandemic forced her to cut back on her hours.
“Thankfully, I was able to work through the pandemic,” she says.
But after she had her daughter Ivy, now 6 months old, Holly didn’t go back to work full time because she now had three kids at home. Her husband works full time, but Holly says they’re still living paycheck to paycheck.
Because of their limited budget, Holly says that help from the pantry “really became a necessity at my house.” The food they get from the pantry enables them to make ends meet.
