Meet James

James and his wife had difficult decisions to make, and one local food pantry helped them to endure the kind of personal ordeal that all of us dreads.

At age 55, having worked all his life, James was treated for cancer of the tongue. The disease so dominated his life that he was forced to lose his job, his health insurance, and all that felt safe and secure. Although he thought he had planned and saved enough for such an unplanned emergency, James was quickly consumed with the expenses of his treatment.

Savings disappeared, and the family found themselves on a survival plan. Surgeries were followed by a number of important medications that were very costly. Though income from his wife’s job allowed the couple to pay for James’ medication, there was just not enough money left for the basics of life. Certainly not enough for food.

Thanks to the Agape Temple food pantry program, which helps people with food received from Second Harvest Food Bank, James and his wife are able to get both the vital medicine he needs, and the nutritious food they both need. Yet another example of how powerful, and how specific the impact of giving can be on the lives of our neighbors who are facing hunger.

Inspired to help more of our neighbors like James? Find ways to help!

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