“It’s a Blessing”

For Jessica Fuentes, mother of three young kids, Food Bank For New York City pantries became a lifeline after her family lost SNAP benefits. "If I didn't have these food pantries, I wouldn't survive, honestly," says Jessica, who relies on our pantries for not just food, but essential items like diapers, personal care products, and other basic necessities for her growing family.

Give today to help hardworking parents like Jessica provide the essentials her children and family need to thrive.

Transcription:

Jessica Fuentes: 

My mom passed away when I was two, so I didn’t have a mother, and I always wanted a mother. My dream was when I’m older, I’m gonna have my kids. But it’s just, like, hard because, like, I am trying to organize myself financially, but my husband, he got a raise, and then that just stopped all my benefits. I lost SNAP [and] the extra help that they would give me on a Verizon bill, Con Edison or so.

You need food, but at the same time, you need anything you need to wear. You need to do laundry. You need shampoo. You need a razor to shave.

Diapers. All the babies need diapers. They need a butt cream, and I don’t have those five dollars to go buy a butt cream paste. We’re five people.

That’s why, thank god, we have the options of these food pantries. If I didn’t have these food pantries, I wouldn’t be able to, you know, I wouldn’t survive, honestly. I want to say that I’m very thankful because to you guys, like, thank God I can be on top of my family and I can support them. Thank you. It’s a blessing.