Brook’s journey has been anything but easy. As a mother of two balancing chronic health challenges of her own and the needs of her oldest son, Oliver, she has experienced more than her fair share of hardship. At 18 months old, Oliver was diagnosed with leukemia. The next 11 months were spent in the hospital, with Brook’s family living at the Ronald McDonald House in Fargo to stay close to him. Thankfully, Oliver has now been in remission for five years, a milestone worth celebrating.
Still, ongoing medical appointments and emergencies continue to shape their lives. After returning to work in 2019, Brook had to leave her job to care for her children when Oliver became one of the first people in North Dakota to contract COVID-19.
Today, Brook is a stay-at-home mom in Minot and works as a DoorDash driver to help cover bills while searching for full-time employment that fits her family’s needs. Now married, Brook’s husband works full time for the City of Minot, but even with his income, making ends meet remains a challenge. Recently denied SNAP benefits, they rely on the local food pantries, supplied by the Great Plains Food Bank, for support.
“We utilize the pantries often, otherwise we wouldn’t know what to do,” shared Brook. “We live from paycheck to paycheck to cover groceries and needs.”
Thanks to support from the Great Plains Food Bank and its partner food pantries, Brook’s family can find stability during uncertain times. “A huge thank you! We wouldn’t be able to make it as far as we do without their help. Even the kids are grateful,” she says.