Stories of Hunger

Larry

Larry Brown, a native Houstonian, is a 62-year-old veteran who participates in the Senior Box program every month. He joined the Marines right out of high school, then worked as a civilian for a time before joining the Army National Guard and later the Navy Reserve. He served until he became disabled after shattering his knee in Guam.

“As I got older, my knee started hurting more. It got even worse when I stopped working. So I went to the VA, and I received $400 a month for maybe 5 years. That’s why I need this program, because that’s all that I was getting,” Larry said.

Larry lives with his mother, and now both of them participate in the Senior Box Program. As they continue to age, they have become more conscious of their diet and focus on eating fresh, nutritious foods, which tend to be more expensive.

“The price of food out here is high, and this is a great program. My mom and I are on a fixed income, and the bills keep on coming. Every little bit helps, especially the produce they give us sometimes, and this is just great. It helps us get over the hump. By the grace of God, we’ve been making it.”

Larry is very thankful for the volunteers and employees from the Houston Food Bank who help him, and says what they do for him and his community is a “kind act of God.”

“The Houston Food Bank is just fantastic for the community, and I support you any way I can, if I can,” he said. “Just keep the good work up.”