Food for Thought

Pictured above: Our Assistance Coordinator, Corbin, prepares a small food box for a family from our food pantry. 

Did you know Good Samaritan Assistance Office has a small food pantry- it comes in handy on lots of occasions for the clientele who visit our office.

This young lady had come in for help to avoid an eviction. After hearing how she had lost her job a few months ago, and was struggling to find a new one in the midst of caring for her two children by herself, since her husband also left her, we were able to write a voucher for her rent that month. Before she left, I asked if she needed anything else- coats? diapers? maybe a food box? 

At the mention of a food box her eyes welled up with tears. She explained she was so worried about making ends meet and feeding her children was her biggest priority. She applied for SNAP but was currently in the waiting period for the benefits to start. How to feed her family was weighing on her mind, and she didn't know we had food- it was a godsend! 

I collected the items for her, and also some information about Helena Food Share. Before she left she gave me a hug. "Thank you, you've helped me so much today!" 

Many times, our office will be the first place people come when they are in crisis,and like the story shared above, it often comes up in the visit that they are in need of food as well.The food box is only meant to last a few days and we provide referrals to other food sources such as Helena Food Share or the Office of Public Assistance for SNAP benefits when we distribute the boxes. Often we aren't the only place a client visits on their road to self sufficiency. A small box of food items helps fortify them and give them the strength to go on.