At 96 years old, Loretta is living a life defined by resilience and compassion. Born during the Great Depression, she learned early on the necessity of making do with what she had. As an adult, she spent years as a childcare expert, specializing in the care of newborn babies before they were adopted, and then transitioned into teaching. Now with severe vision impairment and living with her daughter, Pam, she continues to personify that same inner strength which has embodied her life. For the past nine months, Loretta has relied on the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank’s Senior Food Program and Client Choice Food Pantry to help supplement her grocery needs — resources that have given her both sustenance and a renewed sense of independence.
Since discovering the Food Bank through the Gloria McClellan Senior Center in Vista, Loretta and Pam have been able to bring home essential items like fresh fruit, milk, and protein — foods that are especially important in managing Loretta’s health as a prediabetic.
“I love seeing all the wonderful things I can do with the extra food,” Loretta shares.
More than just food, the program has provided Loretta with something invaluable: connection. Losing her sight made socializing more difficult, and she often feels left out in large gatherings. However, visiting the pantry has become a small adventure, a chance to get out of the house and interact with others. “Going out there kind of makes me feel more normal,” she says.
Though Pam often picks out the groceries for them while Loretta sits in the car with her small poodle on her lap, Loretta enjoys being part of the experience. They make a ritual of unpacking their haul together, with Pam describing each item as she puts it away. “I’ll eat my lunch while she puts things away and tells me what it is,” Loretta shares. “It’s kind of a fun thing for the two of us.”
Even now, Loretta still helps out in the kitchen, finding joy in cooking and meal planning. Together, Loretta and Pam make sure nothing goes to waste, cooking pork chops in the crockpot, using pinto beans in soups and stews, and taking advantage of the fresh fruit. “I could live on fruit,” Loretta declares candidly. But she’s not fussy. “I can take anything and make it into something.”
The support has also relieved financial stress. “We don’t have to worry about money for groceries,” Loretta shares. And with the rising cost of living, every bit of help makes a difference — “We use everything we get,” Pam says.
For Pam, the kindness and care they’ve encountered through the program, the warmth of volunteers, and the dignity with which participants are treated all resonate deeply with her. “They are always polite to everybody, which I appreciate,” she shares. “They make everybody feel welcome there, like they’re not ashamed because you need something extra to help with the day.”
Loretta shares similar sentiments, deeply grateful for the donors and supporters who make this program possible. “Anybody who donates anything is wonderful,” she explains. “I think the whole program is one of the best that I have ever experienced in my life. It just keeps you from having to ‘want,’ which I did a lot of in my youth.”
Now, with the Food Bank’s support, Loretta has consistent and reliable access to nutritious food. And at nearly 100 years old, she continues to embrace life with gratitude. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to accept something you need,” she says. “It sure makes life a lot easier with it.”