Marlana's Story

Marlana and Brad are among thousands of local families who stepped down a rung on the economic ladder during the past year.

Brad, a 39-year-old welder, was laid off from two consecutive positions while working for companies that were hard hit by the recession.

“The companies just aren’t doing very well,” said Marlana, 43.

The couple’s troubles were compounded, last October, when Marlana’s asthma flared out of control and she lost her full-time job.

“Something happens and you just get caught up a little bit and the next time something else happens,” Marlana said. “If I could just breathe and work, I would be happy.”

As the couple reeled from the impact of multiple job losses, they went from living in their own place to staying with relatives and, finally, renting a room in a hotel. Now Marlana skips one of three prescribed asthma medications because it’s too expensive and the couple has cut way back on produce because it costs so much.

“We used to always have fruit or salad. We really haven’t had much fruit or salad in the last year,” Marlana said.

After months of scrimping on groceries to afford rent, Marlana visited the East Central Community Organization food bank, at 500 S. Stone St., for help. The ECCO food bank is among Second Harvest’s network of 20 neighborhood food pantries in Spokane County.

An ECCO volunteer gave Marlana emergency groceries and suggested that she consider attending a Food Sense nutrition class. The classes teach clients how to stretch their limited food dollars to create healthy meals using inexpensive ingredients combined with items that are commonly included in emergency food boxes. Washington State University Spokane County Extension provides instructors, curriculum and recipes for the program while Second Harvest supplies participants with two or three bags of food. Clients receive a revolving mix of fresh fruits, vegetables, peanut butter and other staples – free of charge.

Although times have definitely been uncertain, the couple is looking forward to better days ahead. Brad was recently hired as a welder, with opportunities for raises and enrollment in the company healthcare plan down the road.

Thanks to Second Harvest, its donors and the ECCO food pantry, the Spokane couple received the food they need to safeguard their health while they get back on their feet.

“I went to the food bank and didn’t expect all this. But it definitely helps,” Marlana said.

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