Benjamin is a veteran and senior. In 2009, he was a block captain for his neighborhood watch. The day before Christmas Eve, he went to shut his neighbor’s gate and was assaulted by several assailants. The attack left him a Tetraplegic.

Tetraplegic (sometimes referred to as quadriplegic) is a term used to describe the inability to voluntarily move the upper and lower parts of the body.

“I was in the hospital for 10 long months. The doctors said my neck was broken in several places. I went through multiple surgeries. I was a Marine for 4 years and I have never been through a more grueling regimen of physical therapy,” Benjamin said.

After the attack, he was dependent on his wife and others to care for him.

“I was a man that took pride in the movement of my hands. I was a M-60 machine gunner in the Marines and now I need help doing the simplest of things,” he said.

Then, in May of 2020, Covid-19 took the life of his wife, along with 11 other family members.

Benjamin was going through a painful and difficult time and desperately needed help, as well as hope. That’s when he turned to the Food Bank.

Through our Project Hope program, the Food Bank was able to deliver the hope and nourishment Benjamin needed.

“Sometimes mental health is my worst enemy now. If it wasn’t for the San Antonio Food Bank, I wouldn’t know who I would turn to in hard times. Thank you with all my heart,” Benjamin said.

The San Antonio Food Bank is here to deliver hope. With your support, we were able to give Benjamin hope in one of his most trying times.

Thanks to community generosity, our resources and programs can transform lives.