Surviving Tough Times in Northern Illinois
The story of Jay Iguchi
Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry CAPRON, ILLINOIS
“I was born in Korea but am now a United States citizen. In 2004, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and at the same time my husband and I unexpectedly lost our business. Soon after that, the bank foreclosed on our home, and we had to use our entire savings to pay my medical bills.
A friend of mine told me about the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry in Northern Illinois. I was ashamed that I had to use such a facility, but I had no choice. So I decided to go, and for the first time in a long while I had hope. I realized there were people who cared for me and cared about what I was going through.
During my first visit to the pantry, I was treated with great respect. I left with a lot of food products, and the quality of food was exceptional. I have been using the pantry for one-and-a-half years now. Some day, I hope we will be able to stand alone financially again, but until that day comes I know there is hope for me.
Now I volunteer at the pantry. I want to give back to the community, because I want others to feel less burdened when things go badly in their lives. The Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry gave me not only hope but also the strength to go on.”
—Jay Iguchi is a client of the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry
Your gifts to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal help support this program and many other ministries like it through the domestic hunger grants program. Thank you!