A family in need in West Michigan could look like the faces of your next-door neighbors.

Imagining your loved ones, coworkers and friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented difficulty for all of us.

We stand united in desiring a world that gives us a tiny resemblance of normalcy.

But for many families in our own collective community, life back to normal and pre-pandemic is still life full of struggle.

For these families, the past eight months have not just been inconvenient, they have been devastating.

Families like Mickelle’s need help.

Mickelle is a retired U.S. Army veteran, a West Michigan resident, an active member of the community and a loving mother of three small children.

She attends support groups such as a breastfeeding group, a maternal-infant health group and therapies at Veterans Affairs.

At home, she does crafts with her kids, Jorden, De’Janae and Jaiden, who are all under the age of seven and enjoy being creative.

She and her partner work hard to provide for their family.

But just like so many other families in our community, despite doing all they can, systematic barriers and inequities cause many obstacles.

Jorden, the oldest son, attends Palmer Elementary school.

Each weekday after school, Jorden takes home a Sack Supper evening meal from Kids’ Food Basket.

With the demands of growing kids, having access to healthy, nourishing food to feed her kids is a huge blessing.

“As a mother, I definitely really appreciate the Sack Suppers because my kids are always hungry as soon as they get out of school,” Mickelle said. “The food is already prepared, and I know that I don’t have to check through the Sack Supper to see if it is healthy. I can trust that they can eat before they start their homework and it is one less worry that I have to think about.”

During the school year, Sack Suppers nourish Jorden. During the pandemic, Sack Suppers have nourished the whole family.

When the schools shut down, everything changed.

“When COVID-19 hit, it was terrible. Our house felt like little house on the prairie, with different ages of kids that I had to come up with different lesson plans for,” said Mickelle. “It is hard enough parenting and then you have to be a teacher as well. I have so much respect for teachers now, even more than I did before – it takes a lot of patience.”

The pandemic also caused Mickelle to lose her community connection as in-person groups stopped meeting.

Her partner also lost his job.

The snowball effect kept getting bigger.

“Ever since the beginning of the pandemic it has been very frustrating and difficult for our family,” she said.

With Mickelle as the sole income, at the end of each month, they only had $59 in food stamps to buy groceries – it wasn’t enough.

Members in her neighborhood began delivering meals in paper bags each week to help with food costs.

The meals were Sack Suppers from Kids’ Food Basket – a place she already trusted.

“It has been a huge relief every week to know that we have a delivery from Kids’ Food Basket,” she said.

As a parent who wants to protect her family during a global pandemic, having access to healthy food to keep her kids safe with strong immune systems is everything.

“As a mom, it is very important that all of their needs are being met – that they have the nutrients they need,” Mickelle said.

In addition to being a healthy, ready-to-eat meal, decorated Sack Suppers are a joy to see.

It brought hope.

“My kids enjoy that when different bags come in, the extra special ones they will run and make sure that I see them… like hey mom did you see this picture? It makes me happy, just that little piece of joy that they get,” Mickelle said. “I appreciate that people take the time to do that, it shows that they care. It feels like it was packed with love.”

Joy, care, love and support are what people struggling through this crisis need right now.

Our neighbors are dealing with various struggles every day – from financial, food insecurity to mental health. The fatigue of this pandemic is not experienced the same.

But now, more than ever, communities who come together and care for their most vulnerable citizens are the communities who can overcome this critical time.

Families like Mickelle’s can be protected and given a chance to thrive.

“I appreciate everything that Kids’ Food Basket has already done, but there are still a lot of families that are struggling. It is hard for them to make ends meet,” Mickelle said. “Without continued support from all of the supporters, it would not be possible for my family to get help. There are other families that are still in more dire need of help than even I am.”