Since COVID-19 struck, Jamie, a 57-year-old mother from Everett, has worried constantly about keeping her family fed. Then the refrigerator died, and all their food was lost. “You don’t want to tell your child there is no food,” she said.
A retired retail worker from Dorchester, Paulette, 69, juggles paying for rent, food, and other needs. She raised her granddaughter, who lives with her. “My granddaughter lost her job due to the pandemic. Now she can’t make her car payments and we are afraid it will be repossessed when it’s almost paid for,” said Paulette.
A single mother of three, Danielle had to leave her receptionist position to care for her children during the pandemic. Now back to work, with her children attending YMCA camp, she is far behind on her bills and wondering how she can continue working if their school opens remotely. “I’m back at work, but there is no money for food. And because of my job, I can’t get to food pantries when they are open,” she said.