Living with a disability and relying on a fixed income, this Ventura County resident faces an impossible balancing act each month—choosing between gas, electricity, and groceries. “It’s an everyday occurrence,” Missy said. “Should I pump gas, or should I eat?”

When she first came to a Food Share distribution, she was nervous and unsure what to expect. “I didn’t know if people would be friendly,” she shared, “but I’ve always been treated with kindness and respect.”

Now, fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, and meat from Food Share fill the gap left by rising prices. “If I didn’t have access to this food,” she explained, “I might starve. There’s nowhere else to go.”

Missy hopes more people, especially corporations, will join the effort. “We’re all each other’s brothers and sisters,” she said. “If we’re not all helping each other out, it doesn’t work.”

And to Food Share’s donors, who give what they can each month, Missy has a heartfelt message: “Thank you. Keep doing what you’re doing. Keep encouraging others. Every little bit adds up, and it keeps people like me alive.”