For Kimberley and her family, giving back has always been a part of life. She and her sister often volunteered with their mother at St. Vincent de Paul, one of Gleaners’ longtime pantry partners. Their family doesn’t just understand the importance of helping neighbors—they live it.
“When we were younger, we were always the ones donating and volunteering,” Kimberley says. “Now, we’re in our 60s, and my mom is 86 and in a wheelchair. We’re trying to keep her in her home, which is over 100 years old, so most of our income goes to repairs.”
Like so many in our community, Kimberley and her sister have worked hard their whole lives. Both had careers with the City of Detroit. They planned ahead, had health insurance, and expected a stable retirement. But between rising costs, home repairs, and their mother’s medical needs, money is tight, and food from Gleaners helps fill the gap.
Community Support Comes Full Circle
Kimberley knows the power of community support—and she’s experienced how circumstances can shift.
“Just because someone uses Gleaners doesn’t mean they’re on welfare,” she says. “My sister and I had good jobs, health insurance. But now we’re on fixed incomes, and it’s a challenge. There’s a stigma that people are just taking advantage, but that’s not always the case.”
Kimberley’s experience reflects what Gleaners’ Household Impact Model shows: when families face rising expenses, they’re often forced to make tough choices between essentials like food, housing, medical care, and transportation. By providing reliable access to nutritious food, Gleaners helps reduce those trade-offs so households can stay strong and focused on their health and stability.
“With the way things are economically right now,” Kimberely says. “Even people who thought they were secure are struggling.”
“We used to be the helpers, and now we’re being helped,” Kimberley says. “But that’s what it’s there for, right?”
“When I go to Gleaners, I take the food to my mom’s house and my sister prepares it,” Kimberley shares. “[The food] we get from Gleaners helps. And my mom gets so excited when she sees it. It feels like a gift to her.”
That extra bit makes a big difference. Some days, Kimberley’s sister isn’t sure what to cook. But a visit to their local pantry can help spark ideas and bring variety to the table.
“My mom doesn’t always feel like eating, but when she knows the food came from Gleaners, she’s more willing,” Kimberley says. “I think it’s psychological, but it works!”
Gleaners exists for moments just like this—for families like Kimberley’s who need that extra bit of support to get through challenging times. By helping eliminate tough trade-offs between paying bills, making repairs, or buying groceries, we’re strengthening households and building a healthier, more resilient community.
Kimberley shared her story through our Share Your Story form. If Gleaners has made a difference in your life, we’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us today.
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