After decades of working and building a life in San Diego, Evelyn never imagined she would need to visit a food distribution in her retirement years. Like many seniors living on a fixed income, life changed quickly when her husband was diagnosed with advanced, stage‑four cancer. With both of them no longer working, the past several years have been filled with treatments, medications, and constant adjustments to their daily routine.
As medical needs grew and resources became tighter, Evelyn turned to the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank’s Senior Food Program for support, a step she never expected to take, but one that would soon bring more than just food into her life.
“It’s a program that I never thought I would need to use, but stuff comes up in life you just don’t see coming,” Evelyn says.
That first visit marked the beginning of a new kind of support system — one rooted in both nourishment and connection. That sense of belonging showed up again in an unexpected way at a food distribution. As volunteers passed out boxes of food one day, Evelyn recognized a voice she hadn’t heard in years: that of a barista whom she’d befriended during her frequent coffee stops on her way to work.
“She has a distinctive voice, and when I heard her handing out the boxes, I said, ‘Tina, is that you?’ She looked in the car, and she goes, ‘Oh, for goodness sakes.’” Evelyn recalls, chuckling. “I used to buy Girl Scout cookies from her. She’s just a nice lady.”
In that small, unexpected reunion, Evelyn was reminded she wasn’t alone, and that support can show up in the most surprising ways. “Community is very important,” Evelyn says. “We’re better off if we all get along and help each other out.”
For Evelyn, living on a fixed income means every decision carries more weight, especially when it comes to making sure her husband gets the nutrition he needs to maintain his strength and energy. That’s where the Food Bank has made the most meaningful difference. Through food distributions, Evelyn is able to bring home fresh produce and nutritious staples that help her focus on healthy meals.
“Medications are hard. The disease is hard. There’s just a lot of empty space that sometimes some food helps fill. We are just trying to find ways to keep feeding his energy,” Evelyn explains. “So we use what we can, and if we can’t use it, then we donate it.”
Through the Food Bank’s Senior Food Program, Evelyn has access to healthier options that better support her husband’s dietary needs, making it easier to avoid processed foods and prioritize ingredients that help him feel his best.
“It’s nice to have something fresh from the garden,” Evelyn shares. “The food is definitely wonderful.” Beyond the nutrition, Evelyn appreciates that the Food Bank gives her the chance to try new foods.
The variety of food she receives has opened up new possibilities in the kitchen, not only by supplementing what she’s able to purchase but also inspiring her to find creative ways to prepare nourishing meals. Evelyn says cooking has started to feel like a small adventure. With each visit to a food distribution, there’s something new to experiment with. Next up: a lentil-based dessert.
“I’ve got foods that I’ve never had in my house before, so it’s fun,” Evelyn says. “I like that we’re learning. You have to learn something new every day in life because it makes it more interesting. It takes your mind off the drudge.”
The occasional text she receives from the Food Bank ahead of a distribution, sharing what will be in her food box — sometimes even including a recipe — also helps her feel prepared and connected before she even arrives.
For Evelyn, it’s these small but meaningful gestures that have shown her the Food Bank does more than just bring food to the table. It brings a sense of possibility, curiosity, and connection back into her life.
“I would love to be in a position to eventually be able to donate back to the Food Bank, because I do feel it’s very important to be able to think that you will have something to eat, so that you can put your thoughts into something else more positive for the morrow, and I find that very relieving,” Evelyn says.
*Name and images altered at client’s request.