Twenty-three-year-old Jorge was adopted as a child, but unfortunately his new home wasn’t stable. When his adoptive mother asked him to leave the home in his teens, Jorge was faced with homelessness and depression.
Jorge slept on friends’ couches when he could, but it wasn’t reliable. That’s when Jorge sought help at Food Bank member agency Better Lives Rhode Island in Providence, and met SNAP Outreach coordinator Ermelinda Flores.
The Food Bank’s Community Outreach team works closely with member agencies to provide guests with assistance in accessing crucial benefits. While the team primarily focuses on helping guests apply for SNAP benefits, they understand that no one is just hungry and help guests with a wide range of issues.
Ermelinda’s time helping Jorge sign up for SNAP benefits revealed that he needed much more than just groceries. She discovered that he was missing essential documents, like his Social Security number and birth certificate, which meant he couldn’t get a job, and hadn’t been able to access essential services like doctors’ visits.
“A person going through hard things needs the help,” Jorge says. “Ermelinda was there to help.”
Ermelinda helped Jorge secure a spot in a shelter, ensuring he had a safe place to stay. With help from Better Lives, he was able to obtain an ID without the fee, which he couldn’t afford. With these basic needs taken care of, the momentum started to build, and Jorge started feeling more positive and motivated.
For now, Jorge uses a bike to get around and Ermelinda is helping him study for his driving permit and GED. Jorge hopes to work in a trade, like carpentry, construction or truck driving. With Ermelinda’s support, he’s making significant strides towards stability and self-sufficiency.
Together, they demonstrate that with the right support, the future can be filled with possibility.
IMPACT: Our SNAP and Community Outreach staff have helped Rhode Islanders apply for over $1 million in benefits that otherwise would have been left on the table.
