Sylvia Simon didn’t imagine she would be raising six grandchildren while dealing with disability, long-term illness, and a fixed income. Still, she and her husband, Mark, face these challenges with grace, perseverance, and trust.
When COVID-19 put Sylvia in the hospital for almost two months and left her with lasting lung problems, everything changed. Mark got better sooner, but later couldn’t work because of a shoulder injury. With health issues, less income, and six grandchildren from one to fourteen years old depending on them, life became overwhelming. Sylvia recalls opening her refrigerator one night and seeing it empty, with only $23 left in food assistance.
“I put my hand on the refrigerator,” she shared, “and I said, ‘Lord, I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I know You are able. This refrigerator will never be empty again.’”
Through partnerships between Midwest Food Bank and pantries like Crossroads Baptist Church in Newnan, GA, Sylvia found support when she needed it.
When Sylvia first visited Crossroads, a nonprofit partner of Midwest Food Bank, she needed food but found much more. She came in tired and overwhelmed, unsure how to manage. Instead, she found patience, prayer, and people who welcomed her with care and compassion.
“They welcomed me,” she said. “I felt at home.”
That sense of dignity made a difference. The food helped Sylvia’s household feel more stable, allowing her to budget more carefully and make fewer grocery trips. Even more, the encouragement and reassurance that things would be okay eased a heavy burden.
With the food she receives, Sylvia makes meals that stretch what they have and still nourish those around her. When meat isn’t available, she cooks creative vegan dishes and teaches her grandchildren to adapt and be thankful. Now, they eat vegan meals several times a week, using what they have and making it work with joy.
“The children come home hungry,” Sylvia explained. “They don’t understand there isn’t enough. So you make it work. You do the best you can. And now, I can.”
Sylvia knows Midwest Food Bank’s impact reaches far beyond her own experience. By working with trusted community partners, the organization walks alongside people navigating a wide range of circumstances.
“I’m a college graduate,” she said. “But I have circumstances I didn’t ask for. Midwest Food Bank helps keep us grounded.”
She’s grateful for the steady presence of volunteers and partners whose faithfulness supports people every day, often in quiet ways.
Looking forward, Sylvia wants to keep learning, cooking, and sharing what she’s learned. She believes food can bring healing, dignity can be restored, and faith can grow even in tough times. Every time Sylvia opens her refrigerator, she remembers the promise she made in prayer and the people who helped walk with her as it came to life.
