A 53-year-old man, who had recently lost his job.  He had to drop out of his college classes and was waiting for unemployment assistance.  When he came to the Food Cupboard he had no income and no food.

“When I first found myself unemployed, not knowing how long it would take to receive benefits, I found myself for the first time in my life needing to reach out and not knowing how to do it.  I had been working full time and taking college classes. I could not believe it. I felt embarrassment, anguish and frustration at the situation I now found myself in, having to reach out for help.  I went to look for help with my head down, hoping no one would see me, and feeling shame. Yet I soon found out I wasn’t alone and that was my measure of consolation.  I have found the community support in West Chester to be above and beyond what a person could expect and every day I have heartfelt thanks to the community, volunteers of the churches, the food cupboards and the community at large.”

PS: This was in September 2009.  A recent conversation with him (January 2010) at the West Chester Food Cupboard revealed that he has started college classes again, he was looking for a room rather than an apartment to rent and was navigating the world of benefits and grants – he remains optimistic and very grateful for the help he has received.

Kevin Cresswell is a college student who used his time before Spring Semester to volunteer at the Food Bank. He is an International Business Major studying at the University of Denver.

We asked him to write up his experience to see if we could post it or use it somehow on our Web site..   Kind of a “What I did on my semester break instead of going to…… “     This is it!    Cresswell_Spring_Break_2010

My church has been helping a local food cupboard with annual food drives. All the kids in our youth group know that what we do to help brings food to the people who really need it. Helping to give food is a good cause.