Vernon is a kind and loving grandfather who doesn’t ask much of life: “I’m happy whenever the Texans and the Rockets win,” he says. He’s also deeply thankful for friends like you, who’ve made both his life and his budget better.

When talking about the help that he and his family have received from the Houston Food Bank, Vernon keeps falling back on the same phrase: “It’s a blessing,” he says. “It’s truly a blessing.”

Vernon, 62, has been visiting one of our community partners, the pantry at Hearts and Hands of Baytown, for a while now. And while he’s certainly grateful for the food he receives, there’s a whole other reason he’s so thankful. Actually, two others. “I have two grandchildren who are diabetics,” he says.

Vernon is also diabetic, and as he notes, shopping for diabetic-friendly foods is even more costly than a typical grocery bill. So he’s glad to be able to get the right kinds of nutrition for himself and his grandkids. And he’s also grateful for the diabetes education class offered at Hearts and Hands through our Food Rx program. He attended with three generations of family members so they would all know how to best care for themselves.

“Being on a fixed income, the first thing it wipes out is your grocery bill,” he says. “The Food Bank allows me to not have to spend as much at the grocery store, so that’s one less thing to worry about.” And how does he feel about that? “It’s a blessing!”

Return to Stories of Hope