Celena: A Life of Movement

Celena’s life has been full of road bumps and obstacles, but she does not let any of them stop her. Celena has been coming to the Food Pantry since moving back to Chicago in 2004.

“I just love this pantry. I love all the fruits and vegetables because I’m kind of a health nut and my income can’t get me the things that I need all the time. I love this pantry, it’s very convenient and they look out for your health.”

She met her now-husband many years ago when they were both homeless in Chicago.  After dating for a year and getting married, the couple moved to Houston, her husband’s hometown.  Unfortunately, their time in Houston was cut short by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Like many, they evacuated, leaving behind their new lives and returning to Chicago, once again homeless.

“I remember I didn’t have an ID.  And I remember I came here looking for help.  I came here and they helped me with an ID. They gave me money so I could go get one,” says Celena, referring to the Food Pantry, “You can’t find people like these people.”

Celena enjoys her visits to the Food Pantry because of their ability to help people in a time of crisis. She loves the fresh produce, the social services counseling, and the nutrition discussions during distribution.  She’s even tried some of the featured recipes at home! “I tried zucchini muffins. I came down here and got the zucchini, I got the flour, and made the muffins for breakfast and they were really good.”

For Celena -- and many others -- the Food Pantry provides services to people who need a little extra help.