Desi is a dedicated father of three (ages 11, 10, and 6) who has faced a year full of challenges but continues to push forward for his family. Once a welder, he has been working temporary labor while waiting for surgery to address carpal tunnel in his hands, doing light-duty work in the meantime.
The recent government shutdown brought even more stress, impacting federal programs, like SNAP, that his family relied on. “We just panicked. We turned my wife’s car into a food delivery vehicle,” Desi recalls. During the day, he works, and his wife teaches as a substitute while completing her schooling to become a full-time teacher. Nights are spent making deliveries to make ends meet.
“It’s been really hard and stressful,” he shares. “I’ve been to other food pantries for November to my max limit, and still the food hasn’t lasted. Taking away our SNAP was the hardest punch in the stomach. Seeing my kids go hungry is really, really heart-wrenching. I’m doing what I can.”
Despite these hardships, Desi remains hopeful. When asked about his three wishes, he first thought of ending world hunger, then shared hopes for himself: finding a welding job and getting his health back on track. “I have hope. You have to, especially for your children,” he says.
Through resilience, love, and determination, Desi continues to hold on to hope for a brighter future, for himself and, most importantly, for his kids.