Natividad Story

Each month, Natividad visits the Community Pantry in Brownsville for a box of food that helps stretch her tight budget just a little further. She shares a small home with her daughter-in-law and young grandson. Her son, who once supported the family, is no longer living with them—leaving Natividad to carry much of the responsibility.

She works at a small restaurant where business has slowed down significantly. “I earn very little,” she says. “Sometimes I cut lemons, serve tables—whatever I can, but there aren’t many customers.” Her income barely covers the essentials: $400 in rent, electricity, and other basic needs. And with no assistance or benefits to rely on, it’s been hard to make ends meet.

She first learned about the pantry while passing by with a friend. After asking a few questions, she brought the necessary paperwork and was approved. “Thank God, they signed me up,” she recalls. “Now I come once a month.”

It’s only been a few months, but the food she receives has already made a meaningful difference. Boxes often include rice, cereal, canned goods, and juice—simple items that can be turned into nourishing meals. “You can make tacos with canned chicken or soup with the vegetables,” she explains. “Everything they give helps.”

The support allows her to redirect limited funds toward rent and utilities. “When I get things like cereal or rice, that’s something I don’t have to buy,” she says. “It helps me save a little for other expenses.”

Without this help, the family would have far less to eat. “Eggs are so expensive now,” she says. “We just stick to basics—soups, rice, beans—and try to make them last.”

Natividad is grateful for what the pantry provides, not just for herself, but for others in her community. “Thank you,” she says to those who support the food bank. “There are so many people struggling. If it’s possible to help more families, even better.”

Natividad visited CommUnity Food Pantry in Brownsville to receive nourishing food. CommUnity Food Pantry  is one of twelve partner pantries in the area supported by the Food Bank RGV. Your donation helps ensure that Brownsville neighbors like Natividad continue receiving the help they need—when they need it most.