Gabriel and Constancia both had jobs getting food to older adults. When the two of them lost work due to the coronavirus, they found themselves in need of food assistance for the first time. And help was there, thanks to friends like you.
Gabriel and Constancia like to do almost everything together.
Up until March of 2020, they both worked for an organization that brought food to seniors. Constancia helped prepare the food, and Gabriel delivered it. “It is a joy to help others,” says Constancia.
When COVID-19 cases began to rise and people were told to shelter at home, they lost their jobs on the same day.
Gabriel has applied for unemployment multiple times, but there were issues with the paperwork.
“We have zero in the bank. We have no resources other than this place,” Gabriel says, about a food shelf they’ve been coming to since the end of last March. “It’s been a blessing to come here. It’s our grocery store.”
Thanks to the support of friends like you, food shelves have been able to remain stocked, and open, during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Gabriel adds that Constancia is a great cook. She makes Gabriel’s favorite American foods as well as dishes from the Philippines where she was born.
The couple, who have been married for six years, say they never needed food assistance before the pandemic.
“God has blessed us through the years,” Gabriel says. “We have a house over our heads and no medical problems.”
Gabriel says the pandemic has “been painful. It’s been a hard experience, but we stick together.”
It is because of caring community members, like you, that local food shelves can offer nourishing food and the ingredients people need in order to cook a variety of favorite dishes. A meal close to one’s heart can be a real comfort during difficult times — and essential when it comes to all of us staying healthy and strong.
Thank you for helping to make sure families and neighbors across Vermont have had enough to eat throughout the pandemic.
Support neighbors during this difficult time, if you can. Give help.
Are you in need of help? We’re here. Get help.
Help get food to neighbors who need it. Volunteer.
Glenn is one of Vermont Foodbank’s all-star drivers, and for him, work is personal. Having faced hard times himself, Glenn brings empathy and care that resonate with every neighbor he meets. Watching him work, it’s clear—he doesn’t just deliver food. He delivers connection and hope, with a side of humor that lightens the mood and makes every interaction genuine.
As a retired pastry chef, Cindy spends a lot of time trying new recipes, creating edible masterpieces, and baking for just about anyone she encounters. Cindy also volunteers her talents to teach baking classes at Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, where she has found a community she values, and that values her in return.
When life took an unexpected turn for a mom in northern Vermont, she got in touch with the Foodbank to help provide her family with nourishing food. With the one-on-one assistance available to help connect her with the food resources that work best for her whole family, she can keep feeding her kids quality food while investing in her community.
