Food Helps Active Duty Family Make Ends Meet

Wife of an active-duty Marine, mother of one, works three jobs; yet her and her family live below the poverty line.  This is the life Chelsey leads.

Chelsey lives in military housing in the Murphy Canyon area of San Diego, where she takes care of her rambunctious two-year-old daughter named Charlie. Though her husband is in the Marine Corps and she works three jobs; they still have a hard time putting food on the table.

She often has to make tough choices when it comes to deciding what bills their limited income will pay.  Oftentimes, it’s choosing between food on the table or car payments.

Chelsey regularly skips meals so Charlie can eat. She doesn’t even hesitate; Charlie will always be the one eating. Chelsey knows that especially during a child’s early years, the vitamins and nutrients in food are vital for her child’s growth and well-being.

The thought of losing her husband is another worry that Chelsey carries.

“It is still frustrating that he can die literally at any point in time at work, or he can get deployed to a hazard zone and get shot or whatever else, and we’re over here still trying to figure out how we’re going to make it,” explained Chelsey.

The long hours and multiple jobs have taken a toll on her family and seeing her daughter grow up.

For the first year of Charlie’s life, Chelsey didn’t get to see her eyes open.  When Chelsey left for work, Charlie was sleeping.  When Chelsey returned back home, Charlie was sleeping.  This devastated Chelsey in ways most people can’t even imagine.  She knew she needed help, but didn’t know where to go.

After a few months of struggling to make ends meet, a friend told Chelsey about a local food distribution.  She decided to go see what her friend was talking about. The first time Chelsey attended she received potatoes, kale, and other non-perishable food. The weight off of her shoulders was tremendous.  She could now put a meal on the table for her family Chelsey appreciates that Feeding San Diego makes it easy for people to receive help.  No qualifications necessary.  The ease of the food distributions makes Chelsey feel welcomed and respected.

Though living below the poverty line as a military family can be disheartening and frustrating, Chelsey keeps a positive attitude for her family.  She knows that with the support of organizations like Feeding San Diego, she and her family can get the help they need.

To watch Chelsey’s story and to learn more about Feeding San Diego, click here.