Every Tuesday morning, Maria Perez arrives at Harry Chapin Food Bank’s mobile food distribution at Immokalee Church of the Nazarene with her service dog, Amy. For the past two years, the weekly distribution has helped Maria and her mother, who lives with her, put nutritious food on the table.
Before her life changed, Maria dedicated her career to caring for others. As a bilingual nurse, she found joy in serving families in her community, taking the time to understand their needs and helping them navigate their medical care. It was work she loved.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Maria’s life took an unexpected turn. Today, she is a survivor, but the physical and emotional toll of her illness left her unable to continue working. Living on a monthly disability check, she says rising costs have made it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.
"The fresh vegetables and the milk really help me get the nutrition that I need," Maria says. "I would not be able to get the nutrition I need without this support."
She is equally grateful for the compassion she experiences each week at the distribution.
"The people here are really nice. There’s always someone who helps me carry my food to my car because I’m physically unable to do it myself."
Maria is one of as many as 300 neighbors who visit the weekly distribution in Immokalee. At each distribution, Pastor Jean C. Paul and members of his congregation welcome every neighbor with a smile.
"We are here to help anyone who needs it," Pastor Paul says. "We want our community to know they can come to us, and we are glad to partner with Harry Chapin Food Bank to provide this service for families who need it."
Maria says she never imagined she would one day need the same kind of support she once provided to others.
"God bless Harry Chapin Food Bank for giving us this help," she says. "I am very grateful. I thank every single person who makes this support possible."
Although Maria can no longer work as a nurse, her desire to serve others has never faded. She plans to sign up as a Harry Chapin Food Bank volunteer because she knows firsthand the difference a helping hand can make.