The Story Behind Your Donation Makes Possible Behind the Meal
At first glance, it might look like just a bag of groceries. Maybe a box of pasta, a can of soup, fresh produce (which we at the United Food Bank and Services in East Hillsborough County try to give every week), and some pantry staples. But to someone facing food insecurity, that meal represents so much more. It is comfort and hope. It is a reminder that someone, somewhere, cares.
At the United Food Bank and Services, we often say, “Every meal has a story.” And every story begins with your donation.
Meet Carla: A Mother Holding It All Together
Carla never imagined she would need a food bank. Most people do not. A working single mom of two energetic kids, she always managed to “get by”, until she needed new tires on her car and the high inflation made survival difficult. Like most parents, she does not want her kids to feel this pressure or stress, so she continued incurring high credit card debt until the cards were maxed out. The bills piled up, and suddenly the fridge was empty more often than full.
“It’s not about the food,” she shared. “It’s about what the food gave me, the strength to keep going, the ability to tuck my kids into bed knowing they’d eaten that night.”
Carla came to our foodbank unsure and embarrassed. What she found was kindness, respect, and groceries to help to feed her family. Meals that gave the kids the energy to focus and behave and her mental space to breathe while she gets back on her feet. She got involved with the classes when her schedule allowed and became more empowered.
Generosity at Work
Behind every meal we provide a network of donors, volunteers, and community partners who make this work possible. East Hillsborough County has a higher poverty rate than the rest of the county and has a higher ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained but Employed) population. These partnerships and connections are important because they help us to:
- Keep shelves stocked with nutritious, culturally appropriate foods.
- Partner with schools to feed children during weekends and holidays.
- Deliver a client choice model to 2 community sites for seniors who would otherwise go hungry.
- Help working families stretch their budgets just a little further.
When you give, you are not just donating food, you are investing in stories like Carla’s. You are helping write the next chapter for someone who just needs a hand. You are ensuring that a child goes to bed with a full stomach and brighter tomorrow.
These are not just meals. They are milestones. They are fresh starts. They are the difference between despair and hope.
The Power of a Meal
You might not meet the people you feed. But their lives are changed because you cared.
- A child goes to school able to concentrate.
- A senior does not have to choose between medicine and groceries.
- A single mom feels hope instead of shame.
Food Insecurity Has Many Faces
Food insecurity does not always look like what you would expect. It touches families who work multiple jobs, seniors living on low fixed incomes, college and trade students struggling to make ends meet, and even those who were recently stable until an unexpected crisis tipped the balance, which in many cases does not take much.
The people the United Food Bank and Services serves in East Hillsborough County are not statistics, they are people in your community trying to live with dignity through tough times. They are teachers, veterans, caregivers, and children. They are not reaching out for a handout, but for a hand up.