“I’m always counting down to payday,” Allice shares. “The week before payday, I usually run out of food. It’s so hard when Chris tells me that he’s so hungry and I have to explain to him that payday is coming soon.”
Recently, Chris started coming home from school with bags of food from Backpack Buddies. Filled with meals, snacks and fresh veggies and fruit to last the weekend and beyond, each bag is the boost that Allice and Chris need to make it through.
“It’s such a relief to watch him open the bags. I just want him to be happy, and knowing that he won’t go hungry makes a huge difference. I used to tell him that he’d never go hungry—that I’d always find a way to feed him. And now, Backpack Buddies helps me keep that promise.”
“I didn’t grow up knowing I could ask for help,” Allice explains. “My parents never asked for help, so I never thought I could ask for help. I didn’t think I needed help and I thought I could do it on my own. But that didn’t get me anywhere—it got me into trouble. Today, it feels so good knowing it’s okay to reach out for help and that someone will be there for us.”
