August 31, 2021
Food Bank’s mobile pantry helps struggling grandmother feed her family
Retirement doesn’t always equate with rest, relaxation, and little responsibility. Lois, a Long Neck- area resident, retired from a career as a patient care tech at Beebe Medical Center. Now 66 years old, she has had full-time custody of three grandchildren for the past 15 months. They are ages 3, 6, and 9, so her…
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January 15, 2021
Calvary Church: A Beacon of Hope
Calvary Church in Dover has been serving the hungry in Kent County for 43 years. Under the leadership of Benevolence Director, Margaret Young, Calvary Church is a lifeline for so many individuals, including 92-year-old Lois. “They assist with everything in my life,” she points out. “Every aspect of my life they have assisted. I never…
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October 5, 2020
Hope through SNAP Outreach
By Debbie Manina, SNAP Outreach Coordinator Self doubt, unstable, unsecured, shaky, unsteady, weak, frail, fragile. What do all these words have in common? They are words that describe insecurity. As one of the Food Bank of Delaware’s SNAP Outreach Coordinators, I have seen firsthand the economic devastation that COVID-19 has caused so many families. Since…
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February 26, 2019
Senior Nutrition Program provides a hand up for Delaware seniors
When you think of retired life do you envision travel? Fun with grand kids? Carefree-living? Unfortunately, for far too many Delaware seniors, retired life does not equate to traveling, fun or care-free living. Many of our state’s seniors are making difficult decisions – pay for medicine or buy food? Pay the heating bill or buy…
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October 26, 2018
Community food pantry helps single mom, sons get through each month
As a single mother of two sons, Brittany knows the challenges of food insecurity. The Milford resident is disabled due to mental health issues, and relies on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) to feed herself and the two boys, ages 10 and 7. Because the $290 in benefits just don’t…
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August 7, 2017
Despite struggles, Grand mom to six perseveres
The saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” could not ring more true for Clissita, a 53-year-old resident of Newark and grand mom to six boys. All of the boys live with her. Clissita has been raising the boys for close to 10 years now. She once owned her own home, but couldn’t continue…
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December 21, 2016
Backpack Program helps local mom and kids
Erin never imagined needing to access help in order to make ends meet. The single mom of five recently filed for divorce. Since March she’s been on her own with children ranging in ages from five months to 13 years. She filed a Protection From Abuse order from her husband. “He’s not supporting us and…
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July 11, 2016
Growing a community through food, Happiness
By Jennifer Antonik, News Editor, The Milford Chronicle and The Harrington Journal This article originally appeared in the July 6 editions of The Milford Chronicle and The Harrington Journal. I went grocery shopping this week. Alone. It was blissful. There were no children hanging off of my every limb, nor anyone shouting: Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom…. Mom!…
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April 6, 2016
Spotlight on Senior Hunger
By Gwen Guerke, Communications Coordinator Alvera Perrone, 75, retired to the Milton area from another state, and quickly realized that after working for 35 years as a bookkeeper, she had no benefits. She was also plagued with health issues and a lack of mobility due to those health problems. When she called 211, Delaware’s Health…
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