Family comes 1st, but it isn’t easy

The following is a first-person account by an individual who is helped by the Salvation Army food bank, the recipient of this year’s Be An Angel campaign. To donate, visit The Herald office, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., at 101-186 Nanaimo Ave. W., or visit www.pentictonherald.ca.

The path that led me to require the support of a food bank is probably a bit different than most.

I am a single mom with two adult children now. One of my adult children has a mental illness (bipolar disorder) and as her need for care began in her early adulthood, my ability to work full time has decreased.

When she was home, I was supporting her financially too, of course. She was in and out of hospital and many lost days of employment for me.

This was OK to a point because I had supportive parents and extended family members. And then that family structure became something that I could not rely upon any longer when my father got Alzheimer’s.

Then the finite amount of support kind of shifted to his care, and although I understood that, it boiled down to me not even fulfilling the support necessary for my daughter and my half-time work obligation and I was laid off.

There are some supports for caregivers coming down federally and I am encouraged by this.

My other adult child is taking on more and more with her grandfather now.

I will always put family first. I will always model this to my children. But this does not put food on our table. And it does not always give you the strength you need to carry on in the caregiver role every day.

I will forever be grateful that the food bank is there for people.