Today, Miranda is visiting the Our Lady of Guadalupe perishable food distribution with her mom, Joni, and her 15-month-old daughter, Elli. As they take turns holding little Elli, Miranda and Joni explain that life has been really tough lately.

Struggling with chronic illness, Joni is disabled, waiting for an organ transplant — and unable to work. Still, Miranda’s been doing the best she can to make ends meet at a local restaurant while balancing a demanding college schedule.

Because of her health condition, Joni has to watch what she eats. This means the family has to be extra careful about what they pick up from the grocery store, which isn’t much given the family’s mounting medical bills and other expenses each month.

To help fill in the gap, Miranda applied to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which helps provide some of the nutritious food little Elli needs. But it’s still not enough to supplement their tight food budget. That’s where Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee’s perishable food distribution and friends like you come in.

Thanks to your support of Second Harvest, Miranda is able to bring home nutrient-rich staple foods — including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. She’s so grateful that you provide the wholesome meals her mother and Elli need to keep them as healthy as possible.

Without Second Harvest, Miranda doesn’t know what she’d do. It’s tough to raise a child while working and going to school. With time though, she knows her efforts will pay off with a job that will produce more income for her family. For now, she’s thankful for friends like you who are watching out for her.

“I appreciate your donations,” says Miranda. “This gives us a sense of security.