When You Can Do Good, Do It: Jared's Story of Compassion and Community Resilience
"I'm just on the edge. It's the kids that need it most," said Jared while picking up groceries at a mobile market last spring. That day, he picked up food for himself, his ex-wife, Nancy, and another one of his neighbors. "I pick it up because they have trouble getting here—with the cost." Gas prices averaged around $3.50 a gallon that month. Jared's van could hold enough food to bring back for others, and it was clear he felt called to do what he could to help, even though he had limited resources.
Jared's story echoes what we hear from others. High grocery prices, unexpected life events, and tight budgets bring families to our doors. But it's not just hardship we see in our food lines. It's determination, compassion, and resilience. People come together to take care of each other in whatever way they can.
One of the people Jared was picking up food for was his ex-wife, Nancy. Nancy's grandchildren had recently moved in with her, and "on her fixed income, they don't have enough to keep everything going ... . They're so grateful to see some kind of bread and milk," he shared. Jared also took groceries to his neighbor, who had been so thankful for the last load he received that he cleaned up the grass edging on Jared's sidewalk. "He just wanted to do something good in return," Jared said.
On average, each mobile market we host assists 300 families. We hold these distributions throughout our 10 county service area, inviting families to load up their cars with enough food for a week or more. The impact of these events ripples out into the community, easing the stress of empty cupboards and providing stability, which fuels the days ahead full of work, school, or caregiving for a sick family member. While it's clear mobile markets make a big difference, they also require a lot of resources: food, staff time, and volunteers. We're so grateful for supporters like you who make this effort possible.
After Jared's van was loaded, he thanked the team and shared the philosophy that has guided his life: "What you do will last. When you can do good, do it."
"When you can do good, do it!" - Jared