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Feeding Hope: Jocelyn’s Story
“One day at a time. We’re going to be okay.”
Jocelyn expressed hope for the future as she and her husband waited in line for a drive-thru Mobile Market distribution. This was their first time at a Mobile Market event.
Jocelyn’s hope didn’t come without concerns, though. An employee in the facilities department at a local university, she was worried she’d lose her job soon due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the department was planning to lay off several people at the end of the month. A layoff would not only mean a dramatic decrease in family income but also loss of medical insurance. After a cancer diagnosis in 2017, Jocelyn still needs regular check-ups. Without insurance, she wasn’t sure she could continue to visit her doctor.
“I’m very thankful for the people behind this. Thank you very much for being generous and having a big heart.”
Even with her current job, Jocelyn was already concerned about her family’s finances. “When it comes to budget, it’s really tight,” she said. Increased food prices in grocery stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to afford the food her family needs. “We have to think about what is really important and what are necessities.”
Still, Jocelyn had a positive attitude. Knowing that she could get food, especially produce, to cook meals for her family lifted her spirits. “Don’t lose hope. It’s not going to help us. In life, there’s ups and downs,” she said. She was grateful for everyone who supported the Mobile Market distribution for helping make this particular “down” time a little bit easier. “I’m very thankful for the people behind this. Thank you very much for being generous and having a big heart.”
Food Safety First: – April 19
In January and March, AIB International conducted audits of our facilities – the Pasco Distribution Center, the Spokane Distribution Center and the Wolff Family Child Hunger Solution Center. As has been the case for more than a decade, we received scores of 930 or higher, out of a possible 1000. Anything above 900 is considered exemplary.
While receiving high scores from AIB is important, we are equally proud of the fact that any day of the year, our team is always working to keep our buildings clean and our food supply safe. This speaks to the strong food safety culture we have here at Second Harvest.
A celebration of our volunteers – April 12
Volunteering doesn’t have to be a one-time thing and the individuals who volunteer at Second Harvest in Spokane and Pasco have proven that in many ways. Even though April is nationally recognized as Volunteer Month, our gratitude for your service is year-round. In the last couple of years, the Volunteer Center in Spokane has gone through various changes and adjustments to keep up with the increase in food demand, prompted first by COVID in 2020 and then by inflation. Even with the changes, our volunteer support has stayed and become even stronger. Our community is filled with mission-driven individuals to help us feed, nourish and build the community around us.
In The Kitchen: Food Waste Prevention Week – April 5
Earth Month is the perfect opportunity to reflect on our habits and how they impact the planet. We might think about how often we drive and take advantage of the nicer weather to bike to work, or maybe even grab some friends and family and find a river cleanup event for Earth Day. But did you know that you can make an impact without even leaving your house? In fact, reflecting on our cooking and grocery shopping habits has the potential to have a greater and long-lasting impact on our environment.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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