Our Impact

Kimberly knew her first Christmas without her husband, Paul, would be difficult. After 48 years of marriage, Paul passed away in September.

“He’d been sick,” she said. “And we knew, you know, someday. But we didn’t know it was going be that day. It was just horrible.”

Paul was a retired veteran, but Kimberly said she has not yet received any death benefits. When she heard about a SEMO Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry in her community, she decided to visit one for the first time.

“I just thought this would help me a little bit for Christmas,” she said.

Kimberly and Paul would have celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary the week before Christmas. She said she was dreading that day but planned to spend it with her two adult sons, who assured her she would not be alone.

“We did a good job with them,” she said. “I’m so proud of them.”

Kimberly lives on the same property as one of her sons and is grateful to have family close by.

“(My son) bought some land and it had two houses on it,” Kimberly said. “And we sold our farm and we fixed that little house up.”

Kimberly will spend Christmas with her sons and their families, cherishing memories of Christmases past. She said the food received at the Mobile Food Pantry would be on the table.

“This is a good thing and I’m thankful for it,” she said.