The Good We Do:

One family's story of the difference that the L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry

has made in their lives, in a letter sent to the Food Pantry by a grateful mother.

 

To whom it may concern:

The day our world changed, I was at my sons' piano recital. As my first son got up to play his well-rehearsed piece, I called my husband. He hadn't felt well in a couple of weeks and had finally gotten an appointment to see his doctor. He figured that he needed some antibiotics to help his breathing. I hoped he was almost done with his office visit and would make it back in time to hear our second son play his pieces. What I heard on the other end of the phone stopped me cold. He was waiting for an ambulance to take him to Catholic Medical Center. His heart was functioning at 15%. 

At that time I was 58 and my husband was 60. We were still busy raising six of our 13 children. Eleven of whom are adopted. The ones still at home were all boys. Their ages were 14, 12, 10, 10, 10, and 6. We also had our three-year-old granddaughter with us and an 18-month-old foster daughter. 

My husband had owned and operated a successful auto body shop for twenty years. After we sold it, he started repairing small engines out of our garage and helped to raise our children. Life was full and it was good! Being a home-schooling family kept us very close. Money was always carefully observed in order to maintain our brood but there was an income and things were adequate. 

All of our adopted kids have stories. Stories that made them less desirable than the next child. One is a shaken baby, who had 11 broken bones at the age of 5 months. One a 15-year-old girl who had given up on her forever home after she had experienced sexual abuse at the age of 2 that continued until she was taken away from her father. Another, a 7-year-old girl described as the neediest child in her orphanage. When she came to us she couldn't even hold a pencil. One a 10-year-old boy who was rejected by his pre-adoptive family. And yet another, was a 4-year-old boy that no one in three counties would take due to his anger issues. THESE ARE MY CHILDREN. 

And so, I sat stunned at the recital unable to decide whether I should wait for my sons or leave and ride in the ambulance with my husband. Finances were the furthest thing from my thoughts but in the months to come they would become a daily challenge. My husband's heart had been damaged beyond repair. We would go a year without income before his social security benefits would become effective. Eventually, I would ration food. I would buy a gallon of milk, water it down 50% and allow the boys a glass and some milk for their cereal. In order to have money for food, our very low budget TV network was discontinued. Our second vehicle was taken off the road and when money allowed for gas, eight of us squeezed into a six-passenger sedan and went to church. Daily repairs to the house ended. As the dishwasher, microwave, computer and other things broke, they stayed broken. BUT THE BOYS STILL NEEDED TO EAT. A relative gave us a $1,000.00. They will never know how needed it was.

At bible study I had moments when I broke down. I didn't mean too. We still felt blessed. We've always been a family that counts blessings not misfortunes. While at church one day, I was taken aside by our pastor and introduced to a gentleman who was one of our parishioners. He volunteered at the food pantry in Wolfeboro. I felt tears well up in my eyes. It was pride. Never had we needed assistance! They were also tears of relief. Here were people who so tenderly offered help. 

I went to the Food Pantry that Wednesday after I spoke with the volunteer. He met me in the waiting room, put his arm around my shoulder and held me close, knowing how uncomfortable I felt. He took me directly into a small room where there were other volunteers working. Everyone was upbeat, happy and so willing to help. I even managed a smile. 

I have not missed a week since that day. They feed my family of eight! My boys can have two bowls of cereal and juice if they want, along with two pieces of toast and, hey, maybe a piece of ham and some eggs. In the freezer, you can find several choices of meat that we can prepare for dinner. Lunch does not have to be a peanut butter sandwich. And look, we have chips! Sometimes we even have cake, protein bars and almonds!! 

Financially, the difference is huge. After four years, our overdue town taxes are (almost) caught up and we are no longer accruing $150.00 per month in interest on those taxes. We have a budget (very tight) but doable. And, there have been other found resources that have helped us. We have always been blessed but the L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry has allowed us to enjoy our blessings! They are the keystone to our survival. There is no way that we can thank them enough. When I try, my eyes water up.

 

How You Can Help:

The L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry always needs both volunteers and financial support as we feed our neighbors in need: 1,779 people in 809 families in 23 towns (2016 totals).

 

Volunteer:  

Contact Coordinator Kathy Davey at 603-568-2210 or khdavey@gmail.com

 

Donate:

Donations can be made online at www.lifeministriesfoodpantry.org, by mail at Life Ministries Food Pantry, P.O. Box 476, Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896, or in person at the Food Pantry every Wednesday from 10 to 1 at 264 South Main Street, Wolfeboro.