Stories of Hunger

Despite the long line of cars in front of him, Jimmy didn’t mind waiting to get food from a recent COVID-19 Response mobile food pantry provided by Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Cape Girardeau.

Many people have lost their jobs due to the novel coronavirus, and Jimmy is among them. With the stay-at-home order in place in Missouri, many people aren’t venturing outside and this affects his tree-cutting business.

“I’ve been unemployed for about two to three weeks now,” he said.

Jimmy and his family depend on the income from his business and have been watchful of how they spend money right now.

“We’ve just been really tight with everything we do,” he said.

With that in mind, Jimmy began researching where to get food. His father in law told him about the special pantry at Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau.

“I’ve been going to food pantries, and the school gives away food for the kids,” he said.

Like most, he doesn’t know what his future looks like now with the pandemic affecting his livelihood. He is thankful for the mobile food pantries in this time of crisis.

“I think these [mobile food pantries] are a blessing from the Lord,” he said.