Nick was a full-time commercial truck driver making a decent wage when his partner of 32 years was diagnosed with cancer. Then everything changed. She couldn’t work because of her surgeries, and he put driving on hold to become a caregiver. Since then, he’s picked up part-time work where he can be close to home in case of an emergency, but the change in pay has been difficult to manage.
We met Nick at the Jonnycake Center for Hope in Westerly, where he visits a couple times a month to stock up on fresh staples like milk and eggs, as well as pantry basics that he can stretch, like cereal and mac and cheese.
“Because I’m not working full-time, I fall into a certain demographic now,” Nick says. “My life had a different trajectory – I’ve even donated to the Food Bank before. But I wound up being on the other side of things where suddenly this pantry helped.”
Nick says Food Bank member agencies like Jonnycake are a lifesaver. He keeps his visits to a minimum, but he appreciates that he can choose what he wants off the pantry shelves. “Life is adapting to the changes you’re constantly faced with.”
IMPACT: Guests have the support they need to weather their current circumstances.
