All 2-year-old Tramaine has to worry about is being a child. Right now, he only cares about playing with his toy car from the movie “Cars” and watching the movie on repeat. This is exactly how it should be. However, while Tramaine is so carefree, his mom Deborah Reese watches over him concerned for how she will provide for him and her other 18-year old son.
Raising her two children has been hard on Deborah since she left her job at Wal-Mart on her doctor’s orders. Due to her diabetes condition, she is not able to stand on her feet for long periods of time.
In the meantime, her family is currently on food stamps, but it’s not enough to put food on the table every day. Sometimes it comes down to paying bills or buying groceries.
With her medical condition, Deborah has to be mindful about what she eats. Unfortunately, at times the most nutritious food at the store is the least affordable. Even though one of Tramaine’s favorite food is hot dogs, his mother knows that providing healthy meals for her family is essential.
Deborah relies on food from Food Bank Partner Agency First Baptist Church pantry in Elgin to help supplement nutritious meals in her family’s diet.
“I only come when I really, really need to,” she said. “It is very important to have healthy food.”
Having the help of the Food Bank helps Deborah eat healthier so that she can get better and start working again. For now, feeding her family is a little less worrisome. She can focus on having quality time with her sons watching movies or playing games in her neighborhood.
“Thank you so much for helping families. It’s a blessing,” she said.
