Before the sunrise in Spring Hill, neighbors were already gathering for the morning Mobile Pantry. Among the earliest arrivals was John.
John left his house at 4 a.m. He said he was grateful the distribution site was close to home.
John receives Social Security, but the check doesn’t stretch nearly as far as it used to. “I don’t draw that big of a check,” he said. “And money don’t go nowhere nowadays.”
This year has tested him in ways he never expected.
Just a few weeks ago, he nearly lost his wife. What began as a simple foot operation quickly turned dangerous when she developed pneumonia. “They went so far as to call hospice in,” he said. “I thought she was gone, but knock on wood she pulled out of it.”
The relief of her recovery came with a heavy financial hit. She spent time in a nursing home, and the bills piled up fast. Now, with medical costs still looming, taxes due, and Christmas approaching, John feels the pressure from every direction.
He spent his career building airplanes. “You name it, I’ve worked on them,” he said with pride. His wife worked some over the years, but John tried his best to provide so she could stay at home with their three children.
What was once an act of kindness has now turned against them. Due to her limited job history, John’s wife receives very few retirement benefits.
As volunteers helped load fresh produce and pantry staples into his car, John shook his head in appreciation. “This is greatly appreciated. In my circumstance, I appreciate any and everything. If I can’t use it, I give it to someone who can use it. It doesn’t go to waste.”
For John, a morning that started long before dawn ended with a sense of relief.