Darryl, Manhattan soup kitchen guest

"I don't work because I can't. I’ve been battling kidney cancer for years and I’ll be honest, it doesn’t look good. I try to just get by and live each day to its fullest. My kids help me out. They look out for me and keep me motivated.

"I have four children — two girls and two boys. It's tough being a father. Kids need things and have to be provided for, and it’s hard when sometimes you don’t have any money. With the economy and my sickness, it's tough to keep up.

"The Community Kitchen is a real help. Lots of times your pride can get in the way of getting something to eat. People say, ‘I don’t want to stand on line to get food.’ But when the stomach is hungry, you got to eat. My first time I was like, 'This is what it's like, this is what you have to do.' Now I really enjoy it. It's truly a blessing.

“I often eat here and go to the food pantry at the same time. The way it’s set up, it feels like shopping at a supermarket. That makes you feel really good. They keep you in good spirits around here. It's a place of hospitality and friendship."

We met Darryl at the Food Bank’s Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in West Harlem.