After graduating from Naperville Central High School, I served in the United States Marine Corps. During my deployment I lived in several third world countries and witnessed continued hunger within different cultures. Some villages and communities were so impoverished that people fought over food. Those scenes have always stuck with me and are my motivation to tackle the issue of hunger in my hometown community.
Naperville and surrounding DuPage County have resources to alleviate hunger and yet it still exists. I’m committed to using my skills and experiences in my current role at Loaves & Fishes. It is our belief as an organization that no one should go hungry.
Loaves & Fishes would not make any progress in our mission to end hunger, provide essential services and transform people’s lives without the help of our volunteers, donors and community partners. It is gratifying to be part of an organization that has such tremendous support from our community. We are able to efficiently provide food and service to over 600 families weekly because of the generosity of all.
As we approach the end of the year and the holiday season falls upon us, I ask everyone to reflect as they gather around the table and imagine if they could not feed their family. What would it be like to choose putting food on the table or paying utilities? What if grocery or rent money had to cover an unexpected medical bill?
We can make an impact on a family that is hungry this holiday season. Our compassionate community always does this in an extraordinary way. I offer my most heartfelt thanks to everyone who makes it possible for a family to have enough food on their tables.
