Gail Pays It Forward
By Jade Fisher, Communications Specialist
Gail and Churro take a much-needed vacation up North
Gail enjoys a brisk, sunny day in British Columbia on the day we chat over the phone. She’s on a mini vacation with her chiweenie, Churro. In Ballard, it’s gray and cloudy.
Preceding this conversation over the phone about the food bank, Gail and I met virtually through a Buy Nothing group on Facebook in October when we set out to combine funds to cover a neighbor’s shopping expenses while SNAP benefits were in limbo.
Nowadays, Gail has extra wiggle room in her budget to help others afford food. Though she once leaned on Ballard Food Bank for food and assistance to apply for jobs.
In early 2023, Gail saw her hours at work become increasingly irregular. From April to September, she struggled through unsteady work hours and lost up to half of her paycheck each week. When she was no longer employed at that job, a neighbor of hers directed her to the food bank in September.
Ballard Food Bank became a part of Gail’s weekly routine from September to December. She regularly shopped our free Community Market to grab food for herself and her teenage son. Whilst waiting to shop, she enjoyed lunch at the Kindness Cafe. I asked what her favorite foods were in our market and she quickly answered that they were fresh fruit and staples like rice and beans. She describes, “I saw how expensive [simple staples] were when I was buying them … the price of dry beans actually went up, it was really scary.”
Churro enjoys exploring the neighborhoods of Northwest Seattle by Gail’s side
Gail elaborates on the environment, “The people there, they are so kindhearted, I feel like they're not judging you if you need help.” Gail recalls the many volunteers and staff who helped her during the three months she remained unemployed. She tells me how Churro is blind and the staff and volunteers were incredibly accommodating to him. They made noises and placed their hands in front of him to sniff so he wouldn’t be startled before they pet him. It was the little things that made Gail and her family feel welcome.
Her son also pointed out that some of the food was grown right here on the lot in our Betty Barden Garden. These herbs and produce often go into homemade meals served in our Kindness Cafe. He pointed it out one day as they were leaving and she was impressed. Just as she was impressed with the selection of fresh produce available and the amount of proteins a household could get each week from Ballard Food Bank.
But food is just one facet of Ballard Food Bank. Our Resource Hub staff and the partner organizations we host in the space offer a wide variety of assistance, benefits, and vital information for our neighbors. Gail utilized the hub as well.
After chatting with a staff member in the hub about her situation, our team member enthusiastically informed her that we can help with her resume! And that’s exactly what they did.
“[Ballard Food Bank] helped me a lot with my resume and my job. There are so many resources, from housing to mail resources. I haven’t tapped into all but I feel like it’s supporting so many Seattleites. And there’s hope - it’s not like no one’s there when you have nothing.”
After three months of visiting Ballard Food Bank and sending out the new and improved resume, Gail was offered a position in a different industry that she enjoys much more. She says she has great hours and has since relocated her family to be closer to her new role.
When I ask about the changes in her circumstances and her decision to help neighbors out in our Buy Nothing group, she simply states: “It’s just my nature. I would feed the world if I could. It’s just what I can only think to do. Being fed is important and eating should be a right instead of a privilege.”
She recalls a previous partner of hers who didn’t value this characteristic of hers. In the past, neighborhood kids turned to her when they had nowhere else to go to eat. She didn’t think twice before feeding them and he would mockingly comment, “You would feed the world if you could.”
Instead of being dejected by this, she turned it into a positive mantra. And from a mantra into action.
Through Ballard Food Bank, Gail found stabilizing support that helped her land a new job and feed herself, her son, and Churro. Two years after she turned to Ballard Food Bank for help, it is incredibly inspiring to see what she has done to help feed her fellow neighbors.
Thank you, Gail, for sharing your story and showing up for our community through food and hope.