Chelsey never needed help…until now
Chelsey is a strong single mother who has never needed to ask for help … until now.
During the past few months, Chelsey has received groceries from The Salvation Army a half-dozen times. She’s among the growing number of people who are first-time visitors to Salvation Army food pantries.
“I’ve been out of work for so long, and sometimes I’ve wondered, where are we going to get some food?” said the U.S. Navy Veteran. “The Salvation Army gave me food that lasted for days. They have come through for me 110 percent.”
Chelsey’s life turned upside down when her local stay-at-home order was first issued in March. She was forced to leave her full-time job in retail management to care for and teach her four kids, ages 3 to 11.
“I’ve had to use up all my vacation days and sick days,” Chelsey said. “And distance learning? That’s a challenge on its own.”
To further complicate matters, Chelsey’s youngest daughter lives with cystic fibrosis – a lung disorder that makes COVID-19 even more dangerous. “She takes medicine morning and night,” Chelsey said. “When the coronavirus first started, I had to take her out of daycare immediately.”
Ever since that day, Chelsey has struggled to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, both emotionally and financially.
“It’s hard,” Chelsey said. “I can’t take my kids anywhere because everything’s closed. We can’t go to birthday parties or have family over. We can’t do anything. This isn’t normal.”
Thankfully, Chelsey is beginning to see glimmers of hope. Recently she was able to return to work part-time with the help of a friend, who has agreed to watch her kids while she is away. Although Chelsey might not need to rely on food assistance for much longer, she is happy to know that The Salvation Army and our supporters will always be here to help.
“I can’t say where I’d be without the food I’ve been getting from The Salvation Army,” Chelsey said. “They’ve given me so much. They’ve helped me tremendously."