The North Texas Food Bank Celebrates Grandparents

Grandparents are crucial in the lives of their grandkids—whether they’re raising them, living with them as part of a multi-generational household or acting as a loving support system. Here, we recognize a few of our neighbors for Grandparents Day.

When Rice ISD transitioned to a four-day school week, Ana knew she was going to have to come up with more food for her grandchildren. Not only would they be home three days each week, but the school also requires caregivers to send snacks with their children since they’re in class longer during the four days that school is in session.

“Now that the kids are home more, they eat more,” says Ana, whose daughter-in-law and two grandchildren live with her and her husband. Adds her friend Olga Rodriguez, “They go out to the living room, they eat. They go outside, they eat.”

Thankfully, Ana saw an announcement on the City of Rice’s website about a food pantry being opened last fall by North Texas Food Bank partner Sir Kendrick’s Smile for Autism. She now visits once a month, often with her friend Olga, to receive fruits, vegetables and shelf-stable items that she can share with her family.

“It’s so helpful,” she says. “The food prices keep going up every time we visit the grocery store. Our rent prices go up every year.”

Maria Uvina’s kids may be grown but that doesn’t mean she’d done taking care of her family.

Maria and her husband have six relatives living with them, including grandkids and her 88-year-old mother. “I’m caring for a lot of people,” Maria says.

With her husband’s job as their main source of income, Maria says it’s been a struggle to pay all of their bills as the cost of groceries – and everything – remains high. Her husband works in construction, which also means that his hours can be inconsistent depending on the weather and the availability of jobs.

“Sometimes we don’t have enough,” she says.

She was taking a free Zumba class when a classmate told her about a North Texas Food Bank partner pantry next door. Maria began visiting that week and says the pantry has been a blessing.

“It means a lot,” she says. “Now the money that he makes we have to use to pay other bills.”

After Mary Martinez retired from her career with a sports memorabilia company, she turned to an NTFB partner food pantry for help with groceries.

“Retiring was a big shift in my budget,” says Mary, adding that the higher cost of groceries has put a strain on her finances. “Meat and breakfast food are priced really high, so anything I can get here is a big help. It helps me pay other bills.”

Mary lives with her daughter and, when her granddaughter’s husband is deployed or training with the military, with her granddaughter and great-granddaughter. “That’s two more mouths to feed, because it’s her and her baby,” she explains.

At Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, an NTFB Partner Agency, Mary is able to shop for groceries just like she would at a store, which is helpful since she’s only able to eat certain foods because of a diabetes diagnosis.

“I appreciate it very much,” she says. “It’s a blessing.”