Meet Nicole

While many families count down the days to summer break, not everyone looks forward to it with the same excitement. For Nicole and her husband, parents of eight children ranging from 7 to 17, summer brings extra pressure. When school is out, so are the free breakfasts and lunches their kids rely on.

Living in Elsberry, where food options are limited to two dollar stores and a butcher, feeding a large family becomes even more challenging and expensive. The Care Service’s Elsberry Food Pantry helps fill the gap for Nicole’s family of ten. The Client-Choice format of The Care Service’s food pantries allows clients to “shop” for the items that best suit their family. “You’re able to pick and choose what you’re necessarily wanting or what you’re needing.” said Nicole.

The family was super excited for an early “Thanksgiving” dinner when Nicole picked up a ham at The Care Service Food Pantry. “Last week I got a big ham, and I made it for a ham dinner with sweet potatoes and green bean casserole,” said Nicole. “My kids always love that. They said ‘Mom, it’s like Thanksgiving dinner!’”

But The Care Service’s support doesn’t stop with food. Nicole and her husband received help with an electric bill, and their family participated in the Adopt-A-Family Christmas program last year. “Not only do they have food, but they provide additional resources like energy assistance,” Nicole said. “They even have people who come in to check blood pressure and things like that.”

With help from The Care Service, Nicole and her husband can focus on spending more time with their children without the constant worry of how they’ll put food on the table.