As caring neighbors, we’re ready to offer and give help, yet most of us struggle to reach out for ourselves.
The first time JP went to Neighborhood House’s Free Food Market, he was nervous and embarrassed to ask for help.
“I was the one who was helping people my whole life – always. And I loved doing that,” he said. “When you’re the one who is used to giving, it’s really humbling to ask for help.”
JP left a successful career as a marketing executive to help his family through a health crisis. He used his savings to get through, and thought he would be able to get back on track with plenty of time to continue working. Instead, he faced a series of setbacks due to his own health issues.
“You’ve just got to find something positive to make you get out of bed each day.”
His mother was diagnosed with ALS around the same time his sister was severely injured in a car accident. They both needed extensive help so JP left work to care for them. “To go from an exciting career to staying home and caring for others was tough.” He said it was a “really hard decision, but one that was right for my family. I’m glad I had that opportunity.”
When JP lost both his mother and his sister, he was left adrift. “I was at such a loss. But then I found out what my next step would be: fighting for my life.”
Cancer.
Soon after losing his mother and sister, JP was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma – skin cancer.
Fighting cancer for 3 ½ years was a long, hard slog. “You’ve just got to find something positive to make you get out of bed each day,” he said. He credits his life-long healthy lifestyle and positive mental attitude to help him survive the disease. JP has now been cancer-free for 11 years.
But the hits just kept on coming.
Chemo treatments left scar tissue in his joints, necessitating a hip replacement. Then JP discovered that years of taking thyroid medication caused severe bone degeneration. That called for another health treatment that drained his already decimated savings.
“I had great insurance, but cancer treatments took a huge chunk.” Conquering multiple illnesses created financial challenges that left him with a very small budget.
JP met with a social worker who gave him financial tips and referred him to Neighborhood House’s Free Food Market.
“We all have a stereotype in our head of the type of person who needs a food bank. But in reality, people come from all walks of life. We all have a story.”
JP was scared and nervous for his first visit. “I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t want to tell my friends. I knew I had to do this, but….” He breaks off with emotion. “We all have a stereotype in our head of the type of person who needs a food bank. But in reality, people come from all walks of life. We all have a story for what brings us here.”
“Everyone here – the staff, the volunteers – are all welcoming, gracious and respectful.” Given his health issues, JP prioritizes a healthy diet. At the Free Food Market, he’s able to find organic fruits and vegetables and other essentials for healthy eating.
Even lentils.
His doctor has encouraged him to eat more lentils, which JP hates. Market staff go out of their way to find donated products to help encourage him to get lentils in his diet. One of the volunteers even made me a lentil stew. “Someone saved me some lentil cookies the other day. It was so thoughtful of them, but…” (he shivers and makes a face).
Having help with food has “made a huge difference for me. I couldn’t have made it otherwise.” It helps him pay for the other necessities of life, like rent and his medical bills.
“Food is important, but the people are too. And I’m just so grateful to everyone. So many people are involved: the stores who donate healthy food, to the volunteers and staff who put everything together. That’s why I feel so strongly about writing thank you notes. I’m just one person who is being helped, but there are so many of us. So I say thank you on their behalf.”
*Name changed for privacy
