Thanksgiving is just around the corner and many of us are looking forward to celebrating together with our families. But this is not the case for Sandra, a food bank client whose family is struggling in the wake of COVID-19. Sandra and her husband moved to Toronto to provide a better life for their four children.

Having arrived with very little, Sandra began accessing employment programs to train as a customer service representative to be able to meet her family’s needs. Not long after they had started to get settled, Sandra was diagnosed with colon cancer and could no longer work to help support her family.

Along with the barriers she faces due to her own health challenges, Sandra’s youngest son requires orthotics and orthopedic shoes to help manage ankle and foot pain. The treatments and resources Sandra needs for her and her son, along with the high cost of rent, often mean that there is not enough money at the end of the month for food.

Seeing the struggles Sandra was facing, a friend suggested she reach out to her local food bank for help, and soon after she was able to receive the food her family needed.

“Food banks are helpful for so many people especially now with COVID-19. A lot of people have lost their jobs and the need is so high. If there were no food banks I wouldn’t be able to feed my family because so much of my money goes to pay rent,” she says.

Sandra is looking forward to the day she’s healthy and able to return to work. In the meantime, thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, Sandra has access to the food she needs for her family.

The need in our community is urgent. This Thanksgiving, you can make sure that families like Sandra’s and so many others struggling with hunger have access to healthy, nutritious food.

If you would like to make a donation this Thanksgiving, click here.

Thank you for sharing your heart so generously with those in need.