One of the information and referal specialists sent me this email. The caller’s name is changed for confidentiality. So many people are struggling with the high costs of food and 2-1-1 helps people like “Agnes” every day.
-Melissa
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“Agnes called me about a week ago looking to get information on the supplemental food program. She is 72 years old and living off of social security and a widow’s pension. She said with the amount of income she is receiving and the increasing prices of everything today she barely has enough to get by each month. Unfortunately, the supplemental food program, which provides a box of food each month to seniors, currently has an 8 month – 1 year wait list to get in. I was able to give Agnes the phone number to get on the wait list for that program along with another food pantry in her neighborhood she could go to in the mean time. I also explained what food stamps were and gave her the number to call and see if she was eligible for them. I spoke to Agnes a week later. She called me as soon as she had gotten back from the food pantry. She said she was so happy with all of the wonderful food she had gotten. She listed everything she had, as she took them each out of her bag:
3 onions, 4 potatoes, 4 bananas, orange, brown rice, black beans, 3 artichokes, raspberries, packaged lettuce for salad, carrots, purple cabbage, and chicken breast
She said she had never expected to get fresh food and was so grateful for what she had received. She also asked if she could go back again, and I told her they would be there every week.”
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