Food relief helps Kathy support her family 

It was a lot to take in.   

Within weeks, Kathy was thrust into months of chemotherapy and treatment. The physical toll was immense, but so too was the emotional weight of her diagnosis. She describes how cancers like bowel and lung cancer can carry an added burden - an undercurrent of judgement.   

“There’s this assumption about lifestyle,”she explains.“People can be quick to question how you got sick.”   

For Kathy, that was particularly difficult. She had always lived a healthy life. And yet, as she faced one of the biggest fights of her life, she was also navigating misconceptions - something no one should have to endure.   

Today, at 56, Kathy continues to manage the long-term impacts of her illness. She receives a disability pension, her sole source of income, while also keeping up with mortgage payments. At home, her two sons - aged 19 and 21 - live with her, both working but still finding their footing in a costly world.   

“Which kids can afford to move out these days?” she laughs.   

Despite the challenges, Kathy is determined to support her sons in any way she can. She encourages them to save their earnings, even if that means stretching her own resources thinner.   

That’s where Foodbank has made a meaningful difference.   

Kathy first learned about Foodbank through her GP. She’d never heard of the service before but it quickly became a vital part of how she manages week to week.   

Now, every Friday, she visits the Peel branch.   

“It helps so much,” she says. “I get all my basics there, my milk, bread, fruit and vegetables. It really makes a difference.”   

It’s not just about the groceries. It’s about what those groceries allow her to do.   

With the savings - around $50 to $100 each week - Kathy can redirect what little flexibility she has toward small, meaningful things for her family. A pack of socks. A favourite snack. Thoughtful additions that bring a sense of normalcy and care into everyday life.   

And sometimes, it’s the simplest moments that mean the most.   

“I love it when there are apples,” she says with a smile. “My son loves apples. When I pack his lunch and can include something he really likes - that feels good.”   

It’s a small detail, but one that speaks volumes. Because food relief isn’t just about feeding people; it’s about dignity, choice, and the ability to show love through something as everyday as a lunchbox.   

For individuals like Kathy, Foodbank is more than a service. It’s a lifeline that helps ease the pressure of impossible choices - between paying bills or putting food on the table, between surviving and living.   

Behind every visit is a story like Kathy’s: resilient, determined, and doing everything possible to keep going in the face of hardship.   

And with the right support, those stories don’t just continue they become stories of strength, stability and hope.