This story comes from one of our actual clients at the Livingston Food Resource Center, whose name has been changed for privacy. Meet Em, a determined single mom who was proud of her independence. She had faced her share of challenges, including dropping out of college to raise her son, but she never let it define her. Em relied on herself, and although she occasionally visited the food bank, she never felt the need to depend on it. She was a strong member of her community, juggling life as a mom and a professional, feeling in control of her path.
But one morning, everything changed. Em woke up unable to recognize her own home, with part of her face paralyzed and her mind surprisingly calm in the midst of chaos. It was the beginning of a terrifying and rapid health crisis. Her neighbor rushed her to the ER, her 5-year-old son in tow, so he wouldn’t witness his mother’s struggle. After being released with a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy, Em’s condition worsened. Severe double vision and vertigo followed, leaving her unable to drive, work, or care for her son the way she once had.
The situation spiraled when an MRI revealed severe brain inflammation and a “spot” on her brain stem. Em was immediately prepped for emergency steroid infusions. With no income, no child support, and her independence stripped away, she found herself leaning on the food bank for more than just groceries.
During this harrowing time, a social worker at the Livingston Food Resource Center stepped in. Em, who had always prided herself on standing alone, now faced a new reality—she needed help. The social worker guided her through applying for SNAP and TANF, which granted her just $895 a month. With her landlord’s compassion and the food bank’s support, Em made it through the worst of her health crisis. Her fight wasn’t over—multiple MRIs, tests, and infusions awaited—but knowing there was a place she could rely on gave her the stability she needed to focus on recovery.
Each week, Em would shop at the food bank, carefully choosing foods for her new anti-inflammatory diet. Every time, she was greeted by the same volunteer—a woman who never questioned her eye patch, slurred speech, or the fact that one week Em limped in, and the next week, she didn’t. That simple act of kindness, looking Em in the eye and treating her with dignity, helped her feel something she feared she’d lost forever: normalcy.
Em’s health slowly began to improve. Her face returned to normal, her speech cleared, and her body regained its strength. She never stopped fighting. She eventually returned to work, moved off SNAP and TANF, and began giving back to various organizations through the community. She knows firsthand the power of community, and her story is a testament to what’s possible when compassion meets resilience.
