MAY 15, 2017
Jennifer Alejos
“When I pick up my kids they get excited about the vegetables they get to eat and share stories about their day.”
Like many parents, Valerie is busy preparing for the upcoming summer break.
It’s a bittersweet moment, the kids are home from school; but what do you do when there’s not enough food at home?
“It’s harder for me during the summer because my kids are eating more at home,” says Valerie.
Valerie relies on food stamps and the meals her children, Daniel, Destiny, and Damian, receive at our partner agency, The Good Samaritan, to get through the long summer months.
To compensate for the extra meals her children eat, Valerie cooks soups that she can later freeze or store for longer. Many soups are filled with pasta, vegetables, and meat for protein. She tries to incorporate vegetables into every meal. “I have to make bigger meals during the summer break to stretch for the week,” she says.
Valerie doesn’t have to worry about her children being hungry during the summer break. All three of her children have a resource in the Good Samarian Center for meals during the day while she’s away at work.
“They enjoy going to Good Samaritan during the summer because they can play with others their age and stay active.”
Her daughter Destiny enjoys unsealing her meal to find a generous helping of carrots inside, it’s her favorite vegetable.
“When I pick up my kids they get excited about the vegetables they get to eat and share stories about their day.”
Valerie is planning a better future for her children like her eldest son Daniel, who is doing his best to get into a good college.
“All three of my kids have plans to go to college.” She continues, “Daniel wants to go to college to study aerodynamics and become an engineer.”
Thankfully, the summer meals will help keep her children well-nourished in body and mind.
“The summer program helps me tremendously. I am so grateful.”