Emma's Story

Keeping four boys fueled for success is no easy task. Just ask Emma - she knows from firsthand experience.

Having spent a good portion of her professional career in hotel and restaurant management, Emma made the intimidating and exciting decision to head back to school at age 42. The mother of four knew making this decision would take grit and strategy and was relieved to find an abundance of community resources to help her on her journey. When she and her fiancé found their budget wasn’t keeping their cupboards from going bare, Emma relented and sought help from Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes (KLF). “Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes has eased my burden and allowed me to focus on my kids, go back to school, and follow my dreams of developing an amazing dessert business concept,” Emma shared. Emma knew a little bit about KLF before calling the Need Food line, but says that visiting the pantries has changed her perception. “There’s fresh produce, vouchers for milk, healthy carbs, canned veggies that I love to use in slow cooker meals - the list goes on and on,” Emma gushes. “The foods are so balanced it’s like taking a trip to the grocery store.”

Her unwavering optimism and eagerness to share recipes from the home-cooked, healthy meals she creates with food from KLF pantries is inspiring, but it does come with lessons learned. “Poverty knows no prejudice. It can happen to anyone, regardless of intelligence, religion, color, sexual orientation, or any other variance,” Emma said. She wants anyone who finds themselves in her family’s position to know that KLF helps people from all walks of life. “There’s no need to go hungry. Reach out to people.”

Emma knows her journey is far from over, but she can breathe easier knowing her boys are fed and there’s a helping hand just a phone call away should she need it.