A mom of two children with special needs shares her struggles to feed her family.
With the rising cost of food, families with teenagers know the struggle to keep food on the table. But for Ada*’s family, it became impossible.
Ada would do anything for her family. In spite of her own health issues, she devotes her days to caring for her two kids with special needs. Her husband, Jon*, brings in the family’s only income. But with the family’s complex needs, it isn’t enough to make ends meet.
Braces, glasses, cochlear implants, and hearing-aid batteries add up faster than they can keep up. “Medical expenses will eat you alive,” she sighs. “We have insurance, but it doesn’t cover enough. Last year we spent $12,000, and that was just for one kid.”
Ada shares how heavy the burden is, but she perseveres because she will do anything for their family. “It’s incredibly stressful. But my daughter needs to hear. My son needs his medication. My family needs to eat.”
Thankfully, Ada learned about Food Banks Mississauga and its network of 60+ food programs that they provide food to. “It’s a great help. When I can save money on groceries, that money can then go towards my son’s medication or my daughter’s hearing equipment.”
Stories like Ada’s, unfortunately, aren’t uncommon. There are a multitude of reasons why someone might need food support, and every one of those reasons is valid. Food Banks Mississauga leads a network of 60+ food programs across Mississauga, providing food for almost 10 million meals each year to those living with food insecurity in the city and beyond. They saw a record-breaking 503,000+ visits last year – the most in their 40-year history.
If you would like to get involved and support neighbours in need like Ada, visit foodbanksmississauga.ca/donate.
*names and photo are representative to protect privacy