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| Brian Perez receives food from a pantry in Melrose Park, which helps him take care of his new family. |
Brian Perez is 21 years old. He is married with a young son
and daughter. As a new father, he wants nothing more than to provide for his
family. But he is struggling.
“We’re going through a tough time right now,” he said. “It’s
really hard.”
Brian had a job in roofing, but was laid off. He’s now
working at a temp agency, jumping between retail and warehouse work, to try to
make ends meet. The problem is, some weeks he works nearly 40 hours, but others
he works less than five. And, he’s been unsuccessful at finding a full-time
job.
“No one is hiring for steady jobs right now. I can’t get
anything,” he said.
Most of Brian’s paycheck is used to pay rent. He’s living in
a studio apartment with his wife and two children.
“We still owe half of this month’s rent,” he said.
Brian has practically nothing left over every month to buy
food for his family, which is why he started going to a Greater Chicago Food
Depository food pantry in Melrose Park once a month. There, he receives produce,
meat, bread and nonperishable food.
Between the food he gets at the pantry and the $200 per
month he receives in SNAP benefits, Brian can focus on finding a full-time job,
and doesn’t have to worry about feeding his family.
“As long as my family is eating, I’m okay. And I know things
will work out,” he said.
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