Shonna worked as a waitress at a local restaurant for more than 22 years before the COVID-19 pandemic closed the business and she lost her job.
She had worked and taken care of herself her entire life. But the loss of her job left her with no income … and no food. She lived alone, she was scared and she was embarrassed to ask for help.
But when Shonna reached out to the Regional Food Bank for assistance, one of our Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach specialists immediately eased her mind. Shonna was told that these are unprecedented times, that there is no need to be
ashamed and that many people are in the same position. We helped her apply for SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) and encouraged her to apply for unemployment.
That’s just one of many stories of how our team has helped people during the pandemic, particularly as unemployment suddenly soared and many were applying for SNAP benefits for the first time.
Some, like Shonna, were simply embarrassed to ask for help. Others, experiencing unemployment and hunger for the first time, just had no idea how to go about it. We ramped up our educational efforts online and handed out flyers at distribution events, among other things. But for many, the application process remained daunting.
Since SNAP requests were on the rise, we hired another outreach specialist to help meet the demand — and most of their outreach occurred online or by phone, since in-person meetings came to a halt during the pandemic. Some clients struggled with the process:
“I am old and don’t know how to apply,” said one. “I don’t have a computer,” said another. “I am homeless and have no access to apply,” said another.
But again, our team made it easy. One client who had just received benefits said this: “You are so kind, and I am grateful for your service.”
And we are grateful for your service as a supporter of the Regional Food Bank. Thank you!