SVdP's Family Evening Meal Fills the Gap Left by Summer
Estrella Sanchez’s kids, Yereni and Jacob, go to local schools in Phoenix, and like many families, she counts on her kids getting school breakfasts and lunches throughout the week. But now that summer break has the kids out of school, feeding them is a major task that takes a toll in one of the worst places: The family’s budget.
“The summer is difficult,” she said. “When they’re at school, they’re occupied and fed, but when they’re home [over the summer] they’re eating a lot more. It’s tighter on the finances.”
Estrella’s family has gone through rough times and has needed support to get through crises in the past — and she’s not the only one.
“I only have two kids, and it can be difficult at times,” she said. “But there are families that have 5+ kids, so when they’re all home for the summer, it's more difficult because of the economy and everything going on.”
Amid rising fuel and food costs, millions of vulnerable people are losing their SNAP benefits, and Arizona has been hit the worst by far. More than 450,000 Arizonans, including nearly 200,000 children lost SNAP benefits in the past year, exacerbating problems already present for many. Food insecurity is at a high, and many families are struggling just to make ends meet.
Fortunately, Estrella and her family are regular guests at St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal (FEM), which provides fresh, hot meals for any family. To create a sense of dignity for vulnerable families, the plates are served restaurant-style, where a volunteer takes their order, then brings their food to the table once it's been prepared.
One of the goals for FEM isn’t just to provide food for families that can’t afford it, but also to help alleviate some of the pressure that food can have on a family’s budget. Having some wiggle room financially can help families in crisis stabilize and pull themselves out of difficult situations, such as the loss of a job, family member, an unexpected expense, or so many unforeseeable things that can cause financial instability.
Guests visiting FEM also have the added benefit of the Dream Center, which is a tutoring area for the visiting kids to play and get help with homework or other subjects they might be struggling with. During the summer, FEM staff incorporate new learning materials to keep the kids’ minds sharp while they’re out of class.
“The Dream Center is very helpful, because it keeps them occupied, and it still has them engaged with learning while school is out,” she said.
Jacob is only five, but Estrella said he’s already starting to show an interest in learning and math thanks to his time in the Dream Center.
On top of all the positive experiences, Estrella and her family enjoy the food as well. She and her kids like the hot dogs and the chicken fettuccine Alfredo dishes prepared by SVdP’s Central Kitchen.
Estrella has had such a positive experience with FEM that she comes with her mother and her sister as well. The whole family is able to sit, eat, and spend time with each other. Estrella has also been able to experience a wider community at FEM, thanks to the camaraderie with the other moms.
Estrella said that she’s also been able to connect well with the FEM staff, naming Brenda and Cindy for their kindness.
“I like the support here, and it's been very good for my kids to be here,” she said. “The environment is nice, and it just feels safe.”
