We produced another inspirational and all around amazing video for the South Plains Food Bank because that’s what we do here. This one is a heartwarming testimonial that includes interviews with individuals who have been blessed by the food bank’s programs. The first highlights the Mobile Pantry, which provides food in rural communities.
A Post woman recounts the financial hardship her family suffered due to a cancer diagnosis. Chemotherapy left Renee Clary unable to continue working as a nurse, and the resulting loss of income made buying groceries difficult. South Plains Food Bank was able to stand in the gap for the Clarys in their time of need.
Another area of impact the food bank has is in our local schools. When low-income students are focused on the hunger in their bellies and where their next meal might come from, they can’t perform to their highest potential. By meeting this basic physical need within the school setting, the South Plains Food Bank frees these students to flourish in their academic and extra curricular endeavors.
The food bank’s GRUB program stands for Growing Recruits for Urban Business. It does so much more than employ young people. It even goes beyond teaching them about nutrition and how to grow crops. It gives them confidence and the tools to enter the workforce and lead productive lives after high school.
Watch the video to hear Daisha describe how she overcame the odds and surpassed her own expectations for herself with the help of life-changing mentorship she received through GRUB.
With your help we can feed our kids and fuel our future.
OK. I was born in Fairbanks Alaska because my father was an Air Force. I met a very nice young man that lived here and post in. He and I started. Talking to each other and started dating and.
We got married and I've been here ever since. Right after I found out I had cancer. I left my job and I retired as a nurse because of the fact that. I started chemo not long after that. And it. Affected my hands and to be a good nurse she really need to be able to feel statens with you you're without the food from the mobile patriot eat up what's in the freezer and then I don't know what we do. Well with my check. And make the house payment. And I make. Half of the carpet. And then with his check that he gets. A fool you know what the weeks. He does the other part of the car payment and he does all of the other bills. By the time you do that with no more than what he makes.
We really don't have any money to go for shop. The moment I realized that we needed the food it was. You know when they canceled the. Food stamps and. Patton received the disability check yet. And there was nothing there but a few things in the freezer. We have to keep the gas going. We have keep the water when we keep the lights go. So we pay those first. Then if there's anything left. We'll go get hamburger meat or something like that. Going from the director of nursing at a nursing home.
And everybody comes to you and goes hey you know what do we do now. And. You know you. Work. To get your associate's degree.
You work part get your bachelor's degree and now all of a sudden this stinking thing called cancer pops up its ugly head and you have to go. Now what I did. And yes it does humble you and it scares you. Because you think well. What are we going to do now. How are we going to survive. Makes you stop and think What can I do to live with what kind of live without. Because you have to figure out. How you're going to pay your bills how are you going to get food with half.
Of what you're used to have. My husband dusty Clary's and he's. He works some very long hours that the United supermarket here in post.
He's in the meat department. And I know it has got to be hard on him when there's times we don't have the money to buy any meat and that make the cut for everybody else just like with nursing and you want to make sure they know you care. This way with the mobile pantry. Being able to get it. You know that somebody cares enough to bring it here. And somebody cares enough to donate. Money food and cut their time. And it does help you mentally. To you know know somebody cares. And is willing to give up himself and food boxes are. A major help. Because. It wasn't for that. Therapy some weeks so we wouldn't have any like. The ones that don't pay anything the food the time money. Anything. I just want to say thank you and God bless you all. You're all very much appreciated by me.
So my name is Hannah Jones and I've been the site coordinator here at Calabasas middle school with communities and schools for about the last three years. I was here at Cavazos our. Majority population is low income and so. With that additional just struggle you know economically that really does affect students here at school with. Whether they're hungry.
I can't focus and they're distracted. They are.
Not able to concentrate on what's going on. They're not always engaged and so providing you know crackers or a granola bar or something to give them a little bit of sustenance. Allows them to like refocussing kind of like calm down to be able to do whatever class works in front of them. So there are cases here in. This area of Lubbock that there are students that are even at the middle school level that are having to be self-sufficient or. Pull a really big load for their family.
And that's really hard because there are they're missing out on a lot of opportunities we just grow as a kid. One student in particular. I've known her for three years as a sixth grader all the way through an eighth grader and this year there was a really big moment in her family to where she lost her guardian. She had passed away. And so. Teachers counselors myself the home liaison. We knew that was such a. Delicate situation and so we were trying to assist as much as possible. But the reality is that. This child was like 14. Was truly taking care of herself. And so that is such an. Eye Opener. Is such a real thing. And you don't think about that.
Always in the Lubbock area. I'm grateful beyond belief for Sondheim's moving and how they impact the community and how they're. How they're wanting to grow and be more intentional with their help. Because.
It's a real need here. And I've seen it and I've also seen. The growth and the success of students. That when that need is met. I get to see them blossom into. Really. Amazing individuals.
My name is Dave chicanes. I am 18 years old and I've been with the program for five years.
Well when I was younger like kids and stuff they would tell me that I was stupid in all this other stuff which was not true at all. But you know I'm a kid so I'm going to believe it and I'm like OK I'm done I can't do this I can't do that.
I didn't really have much motivation to do anything.
And I had already set my life like I'm going to do this I'm going to work low paying jobs the rest of my life because that's what I'm worth. There was this guy. I liked him a lot. The things he told me was really bad like oh you're just a sexual object that's what you hear from my life.
That's all your worth. The person that he was describing wasn't at all mean. I think the program helped me a ton in that situation. Soon after we come out like these are people we can talk to like yes we cannot grow crops. We learn things but these are people that we can talk to about things that.
Get really close because of them. I was able to get out of the situation. And. Realized that it was talks. But whenever I came to the group program it taught me so many things. And I became more mature. And I realized that I was worth more and I have to. I used to be really shy and not talk a lot. Now I feel like I have great communication skills and I'm able to talk to people more.
I also knew nothing about nutrition. I just kind of was given to me and so now I know how to take care of myself in the right portions I should be eating and well I should be in Caterine label. And I also know how to fill out a job application and go through that interview and do their resumes and all that.
Without the program. I highly doubt I would have realized what I wanted to do. But I will be attending Eastern New Mexico University you fall and I will be and I will be majoring in psychology with a minor in Sociology.
I've come so far and I've passed every limit that they've set for me and so limits are a figment of imagination.