DAWN IS DOING BETTER THANKS TO HER HARD WORK, CREATIVITY AND OUR GROCERIES!
By many definitions, Dawn* would be considered middle class -- with a house, a car and one child in college. But this attractive 40 year old woman’s hands literally trembled as she sat at the River City Community Services’ front desk last month, applying for a three-day emergency food supply. She unfolded her daughters’ birth certificates, and shared her story. She explained that she was raising her daughters, ages 18 and 6, but her ex-husband had fallen into a drug habit and was no longer sending child support. Despite having a stable job as an administrative assistant, she was caught short and came to the food closet for emergency food assistance.
“This month, I’m okay,” she said recently. “I’ve worked 11 days in a row, taking overtime and cutting every expense that I could…. I’ve had to get creative. But last month, the food from the food closet helped me fill up my tank with gas and get to work.”
Dawn’s experience is more and more common. She’s hanging on, trying not to lose her house and finding ways to keep her family fed. She blames no one for her hard times, and is even apologetic about coming to River City Community Services for help. Read more about people who are “working poor” and why River City Community Services provides a vital safety net.
* name changed
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW E-NEWSLETTER!
River City Community Services is launching an e-newsletter!
As we have something we hope worthy of a slot in your inbox, we plan to share:
- Brief profiles of people who benefit from RCCS services
- Calls for food we’d love to have donated – like fresh summer produce!
- What we’re seeing regarding the changing picture of poverty in Sacramento
- Innovative ways that individuals and companies are partnering with River City Community Services
- Hot-off-the-press results of events like Empty Bowls
To receive the e-newsletter, click here to join our email. Got suggestions? Contact us!
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PUSH US OVER THE FINISH LINE AND SUPPORT THE “FILL THE GAP” CAMPAIGN!
At River City Community Services, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: running a special campaign to “fill the gap”. We’re making a special appeal to the community to help us raise $40,000 by July 31 so that River City Community Services doesn’t have to turn people in need away or reduce the amount of food we provide when people come to us for emergency assistance. We’re more than halfway there, but it’s important to keep going so that our “little food closet that could” can keep meeting growing community needs.
Tough times mean that nearly 40% more people are coming to our food bank – many for the first time – for our 3-day emergency food supplies. Four out of ten meals are now going to feed children. Purchased additions to donated food supplies, including protein-rich items, are up 35% over last year. The result is a “perfect storm” of higher need and higher cost.
Read more about how your donation can help keep our pantry stocked for those who need a little help.> > |
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