Transcript:
Noel, Mother of 2 from Brooklyn:
I have my bachelor’s degree. I’m an educated woman, but I’m still living in insecurity when it comes to food. I have my own company, and I’m still working as a a part time worker. I teach piano, guitar, and voice.
I’m doing okay with it, but as you can see, like with my children and myself, I’m still finding that at the middle and end of the month, I still have to go to food pantries just to make ends meet. You know, you might be able to pay all your rent today this month.
You might be able to get your Con Ed bill and pay your gas and water, but you might not be able to pay for food because the price of the food has changed since even in the past four years. It has skyrocketed even since then.
And Food Bank for New York City has been, like, crucial in assisting us with putting fresh vegetables and food in our refrigerator. I think the food banks really are becoming more common, and I did notice, like, Food Bank of New York City was one of those food pantries that was always working twenty fourseven, like three sixty five.
And this is one of those places that would just help you just get to the next level without the stress of where’s my next meal gonna come from. Even with having food stamps and WIC, WIC only gives me twenty six dollars in vegetables and foods for the month, which is helpful, but like twenty six dollars, it is stressful, especially when you have children.
Being a parent is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. For me, it’s not hard. The times get hard, but when you love each other, it doesn’t feel that hard. I love being a mom.
They already have joy. They already have peace. Thank God they already have good health. I would say I just want them to be continue educating themselves and loving themselves in this thing called life and being able to, like, maneuver themselves in these different shifting times.
