Amber
Several times Amber was caught taking other students’ lunches and snacks, particularly on Fridays.
Amber is a fourth grader at a local school. She qualifies for the free school breakfast and lunch program which she makes sure to never miss before class starts. Recently, she began to show a significant behavior problem that impacted her success in school. Several times Amber was caught taking other students’ lunches and snacks, particularly on Fridays. She would hide the food in her pockets, backpack and desk. After her teacher discussed the problem with her, Amber confessed that she was saving it for the weekend because she and her siblings didn’t really have anything to eat at home. So, her teacher and principal started purchasing food with their own money for Amber to take home on the weekend. Not too long afterwards, Weld Food Bank’s Backpack Program began at her school and Amber became a recipient. According to her principal, she is an excited and enthusiastic child when it comes to getting her food for the weekend. One Friday, she even exclaimed, “I used to hate Fridays, but not anymore. Now I love them because I get this food.” Best of all, she does not take snacks or lunches from her classmates anymore.
Carole
As time went on she found it harder to afford her medication, and other essential needs.
After staying home to raise her three kids, Carole became a nurse for over 20 years. In retirement her health slowly declined as the years of standing on her feet caught up to her. She was eventually diagnosed with severe arthritis which brought on an expensive prescription. As time went on she found it harder to afford her medication, and other essential needs. Eventually, like many other seniors we serve, she had to choose: medicine or food. That choice brought her to Weld Food Bank where she was able to sign up for our Senior Feeding Program. Now she gets a monthly nutritional food package along with fresh produce, dairy and meat that helps her better afford medication.