August 2023

Motivated By Memory

Mary Helen is known for her compassion, kindness, and willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need. Born in Lubbock, Texas, she moved to San Antonio when she was adopted by her grandmother at the age of five. She grew up in humble beginnings and persevered through life’s challenges, always guided by her sense of optimism and value of hard work.

“I worked every day after I graduated from high school. I remember wanting to work to help my grandmother pay the bills. Sometimes my grandmother and I would go days with eating just tomato sauce,” she shared.

Despite the challenges of growing up with food insecurity, Mary Helen remained grounded in her upbringing. As a grand-daughter, mother, and wife, she continuously strives to be a positive example and source of support for her family. 

Sharing a studio apartment with her husband, a retired and disabled military veteran, they live modestly to make ends meet. They have found joy in their humble circumstances, giving service, and cherishing their life together. 

Finding her family struggling last October, amidst inflation and increasing utility expenses, Mary Helen registered for San Antonio Food Bank emergency food assistance. As she and her husband arrived at the food distribution, the gravity of the need in their community immediately set in. They witnessed hundreds of vehicles lined up, row after row, occupied by individuals awaiting assistance.  

“The number of cars in line tugged on my heart. I got out of my car to see if I could offer help. I volunteer at my church regularly, so I know how crucial it is to offer a helping hand,” she stated.

Motivated by memory, Mary Helen volunteered tirelessly for over four hours serving individuals and families like herself receiving food assistance. Her personal experiences moved her to offer comforting words to clients overwhelmed with hardship, and her presence served as inspiration to staff and volunteers.

Since then, Mary Helen has continued to volunteer for the Food Bank and has shared the gift of voice by being a speaker at several partner agency conferences. “It’s always an amazing experience to help the Food Bank. If you ask me to volunteer, my response would be – what time? I am blessed when I am assisted with food and I will always remember that my one act of kindness at the distribution came back to me and my family ten-fold…If I have the hands to help, I will,” she said. 

Thousands of selfless volunteers, like Mary Helen, are vital to sustaining the Food Bank’s efforts to fight hunger and feed hope in 29 counties across Southwest Texas. Only as a collective, can we serve over 100,000 neighbors each week.