LAWTON, Mich. – Going hungry is a problem you may not witness firsthand, but it surrounds us: one in six people in America struggle with hunger. This week, FOX 17 focuses on people who struggle to put enough food on the table and the West Michigan resources available to them.
The Williams family in Lawton agreed to have an honest conversation with us about what living on food stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dollars looks like as they work hard to feed their family on a shoestring budget.
Their story is a reminder that nearly everyone knows someone who has struggled with hunger.
Just a few short years ago, Amanda and Joel Williams met at work and became a family of three. By the time baby number two was on the way, they were laid off.
“(Joel) got approved for his disability, so we were able to move out on our own, because we were already living in his parents’ living room, the three of us,” said Amanda Williams.
Now a family of five, Williams cares for their kids and her fiance Joel is off work on disability; each day is about making their budget work.
Joel lost his arm in a car accident when he was 13-years-old. He's had a troubled past, previously sentenced to prison on drug possession, but now said he is focused on caring for his family and is clean of drug use.
“We live on a fixed income,” said Williams. Asking for help, she said, is humbling.
“It is hard just to reach out there,” said Williams.
“You have to swallow your pride sometimes and understand that it’s not, not all our fault that we can’t provide for our children.”
This is what Williams said they receive per month for food: SNAP provides them roughly $280 for groceries; WIC provides about 40 jars of baby food and three cereal boxes.
The Williams family walked us to their kitchen to show us what that budget looks like. Opening the cupboards then the fridge, they said they will eat this food for at least the week. “This was dinner last night,” said Joel as he pulled out two small containers of leftovers from the refrigerator. Rustling through their freezer Joel showed FOX 17 a bag of potatoes. Holding it up, he said, “This big bag right here, at least three meals.”
When their pantry empties, the family turns to the community: Eleanor’s Pantry in Paw Paw; Valley Family Church in Portage; and nearby mobile pantries.
Bottom line: The couple said they don’t let their kids go hungry.
“It’s really just the kids, because a lot of times I feel like I could without. It’s just we’re responsible for taking care of them,” said Williams. “They have to have to grow, so I'm not ashamed to do it for them."
FOX 17 would like to thank the Williams for sharing their story with us.
Also, this Saturday is the country’s largest annual food drive: Stamp Out Hunger. USPS letter carriers run the drive and will deliver a Meijer paper bag and postcard explaining the drive by Wednesday.
To donate, place non-perishable food (specifically those high in protein like bean soup or peanut butter) into any bag and leave it out to be picked up in time for this Saturday’s mail. According to Feeding America West Michigan, last year’s drive collected 62,000 pounds of food.
If you need help, or know someone who does, here’s a list to start:
- Call 211 to help locate food resources in your area
- Feeding America West Michigan, food bank in Comstock park which distributes food to families in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula; click on the Find Food tab to locate nearby mobile pantries and food pantries
- Fair Food Network and its Double Up Food Bucks program to match SNAP dollars on Michigan-grown produce; enter your zip code under the Locations tab to locate participating grocery stores and markets
- Findafoodpantry.org to enter your zip code and food a food pantry in your area
