You helped turn Nancy Castro’s sadness into joy. Five years ago, her son Gary died at age 28 from an autoimmune disease. Gary always liked to help people, a value he learned from his parents. After he died, Nancy knew the best way to honor her son’s memory was to find a way to serve people. You provided that way, and she has profoundly impacted the lives of many.
Nancy was still overcome with grief when she drove past the Mission and saw a long line of people waiting for food, something she never noticed in the two decades she lived in Frederick. She returned to learn more about the Mission and immediately knew this was the place to honor her son’s memory. She has volunteered four days a week ever since.
Because Nancy is bilingual, she can communicate with the English and Spanish speakers who come for help. She sees guests of all ages and circumstances, including seniors on fixed incomes and people who live on the street. “The main reason they come is the cost of food. They are especially excited about meat and milk. For many people, rent takes most of their paycheck, leaving little money for food. You must be in real need to wait in that long line, especially in summer!”
Last spring, the Food Distribution Center opened for “client choice” shopping, enabling people to select what they will use, resulting in less food waste.
“I love showing people all the different foods they can choose; they get so happy!”
Nancy and the other volunteers show up hours before the Food Distribution Center opens, stocking the shelves, and then they clean up for an hour after it closes. Her adult daughter questioned Nancy’s devotion to working in the Food Distribution Center. She asked, “Why don’t you get a full-time job and make some money with your time?” Nancy replied, “I don’t need the money, and I love how happy people are when they get the food. I want to do this for many years! My husband says, ‘If it makes you happy, do it.'”
Your generosity feeds thousands of people each month and gives purpose to Nancy’s life. “Before I came to the Mission, I went to the cemetery almost every day. I cried every day. This place brings me joy because I’m doing what I like.”
