John and Brigid Struggle to Eat During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For many of us, this past year has been the most challenging year of our lifetime. Every day is filled with worry and sadness for the loss of lives and livelihoods in our community, across our country, and around the world. This health crisis has impacted our country in every way. So many people have had to resort to receiving aid for the first time in their lives. And you were there to support them. “This is such an amazing help for us. This will really help us right now,” said John of San Diego, California at a food distribution event held by the local food bank. IRT donated more than 200,000 meals to the food bank to support families just like John’s. “This is our first time getting help from the food bank, “said John. “But we are unemployed now because of the coronavirus.” John and his wife, Brigid, both had worked in concessions at different sporting events, fairs, and conventions for the past 15 years. “Our jobs are dependent on large events at big venues, and now all of that is gone due to the pandemic. Who knows when the big events will come back? That’s our livelihood. And now all of that is gone.” “All of this happened at the same time that our furnace and water heater broke, and we had to go into debt to pay for them to be replaced. We are really worried about unemployment running out. After the unemployment runs out what happens to us? What will we do?” asked John. John applied for jobs as a bartender but says he knows he won’t be hired. When bars and restaurants open again, they will rehire their former employees. As difficult as this time has been for all of us, no one has it harder than these families who have lost their livelihoods - families like John’s. Thank you for helping them get through these difficult times.