When they retired, Michele and her husband moved to Florida to be close to family. Her son and his wife had good jobs and four young kids but needed extra help.
“Things are tight for everybody,” Michele explains, adding that childcare is expensive, and that’s if you can find it. She became their nanny, a second career that paid in laughter and cherished memories.
“I just recently lost my husband in October, so things are kind of rough,” says Michele as she lists the cost of her rent, insulin and even the price of eggs to the penny. The loss brought emotional pain but also financial strain, as they had relied on his pension for a significant portion of their income.
Thanks to you, she found a strong sense of community and support at a faith-based food pantry supported by Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. She chats with the friendly staff members and volunteers who help her carry an abundance of nutritious groceries to her car. The conversation lifts her spirits, and the meat, produce, bread, and nonperishable canned goods provide security for the week ahead.
“I feel good coming here because I know I’m gonna receive some help that I need,” says Michele. “It’s really, really helpful to me.”
