Stories for Stand By Me

Eldiablo, a Wilmington resident, knows firsthand that a low credit score is more than just a number. He can share first-hand experience about how poor credit creates obstacles for someone who wants to finance larger purchases, like a home. So, thanks to his sister, Eldiablo learned about a free financial counseling program, Stand By Me,…

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Tom – not his real name – has worked toward home ownership for several years, and he’s about to reach that goal.  Almost four years ago, he connected with Marilyn, one of our Stand By Me financial coaches. Stand By Me offers free personal, private, one-on-one financial coaching through a partnership between local nonprofits, United…

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When Shirae met the Food Bank of Delaware’s Stand By Me coach Marilyn Ramirez at a Wilmington Housing Authority event, she was struggling with debt and poor credit, looking for a way to relieve stress and to improve her situation. Stand By Me is a joint project of the state of Delaware and the United…

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Monique’s voice quivers and her emotional response is obvious – even during a phone conversation – as she expresses gratitude to the guidance and support she received through the Stand By Me program at the Food Bank of Delaware, and in particular from Marilyn, her counselor. When the Newark resident initially met Marilyn at a…

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Audrey and her husband, active retirees from New Jersey, enjoy their life in Middletown, but she said she’s struggled to connect to resources. “At first, I didn’t know how to get food,” she said, but she found help at the Neighborhood House. Then she learned about the Food Bank of Delaware’s Healthy Pantry Center, and…

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Phyllis, a Dover resident, is so grateful that she connected to the Stand By Me program at the Food Bank of Delaware. This retiree is now in the process of fulfilling her life-long dream – home ownership. Stand By Me offers personal, private, one-on-one financial coaching through a partnership between the Food Bank of Delaware,…

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Sometimes a chance conversation can result in positive lifestyle changes. Just ask Malena, a Wilmington resident, whose connection to a Stand By Me counselor helped her achieve her goals. While taking her daughter to a Food Bank of Delaware food drive-through distribution over a year ago, Marlena spoke with Marilyn, one of our Stand By…

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Susan – not her real name – is unhoused with three children, and working toward a secure life for herself and her three children.  She focuses on overcoming the challenges standing between her current situation and stability. Now she is living in Philadelphia, but she wants to move to Delaware where she believes things will…

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When Curtis, a Wilmington-area father of three, enrolled in the Food Bank of Delaware’s Culinary School in Newark he learned much more than he ever anticipated. In addition to earning his ServSafe® credentials, mastering professional food preparation skills, and then starting a new career as a chef in a senior residential facility, he connected with…

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With a new year – 2022—many of us make New Year’s resolutions, an opportunity to consider some positive lifestyle changes. While some people might want to lose a few pounds or get back into shape, others recognize that it’s a good time to re-evaluate – and improve – their household’s financial situation. Melissa Campino, one…

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