Our Stories

It’s not their story or my story, it’s our story.

At Kinship Community Food Center, our shared joys and challenges become a source of transformation in all of our lives.

One rarely mentioned demographic we serve are middle income families.  Meet Adison, a mother living in our neighborhood whose gentle smile can make you feel right at home. As you talk to her, you discover that Adison hasn’t been to a food pantry before. “The only reason I’m here,” she timidly explains, “is that I had to make a payment for my daughter’s college. I just couldn’t make it through the weekend.”

Adison is a proud parent who wishes the best for her daughter. Her smile grows as she continues to describe the many accomplishments her daughter has achieved. “She’s so smart,” She proudly states. “She’s going to go far… I know it.”

Adison is not out of the ordinary.  45% of workers in the US earn under $15 an hour. Neighbors who have a moderate income, but still don’t have enough to make ends meet make up about 10% of our shoppers. When trying to balance all of life’s demands and expenses, it can be difficult to put dinner on the table – even if it’s just for one weekend. Adison’s aspirations are part of life in our city.

At the Kinship Community Food Center, we do not make assumptions about those who walk through our doors. We know that their story isn’t that different from our own. It’s not their story or my story, it’s our story. Be it working to provide for a family, worrying over finances, or figuring out how to pay for a child’s education; the pressures of life are the same no matter your situation.  In community we discover the bonds we share. We discover the gift of kinship.