At 64, Bethan is vibrant and optimistic, despite the hardship and loss she’s experienced throughout her life. She didn’t always feel this way.
Bethan went through some extremely difficult times after her nephew was killed during active duty in Afghanistan, and then she lost both her parents in two short years. Then, in February 2020, after working as a chef for over 30 years, Bethan had a stroke.
She hasn’t been able to work since. The days after that stroke was very hard. There were days when Bethan actually thought about giving up. Thankfully, Bethan was connected with a social worker who has been an amazing support for her. She connected Bethan to vital resources, including the Food Bank.
Bethan is so very grateful to have access to fresh and nutritious food through the Greater Vancouver Food Bank! She’s also grateful for you – and all our amazingly generous donors – who give so that she can get enough to eat.
“I honestly don’t know where I’d be without people like you! You guys are heroes,” Bethan said. “I got eggs, I got milk, I got fruit. I got so many vegetables, I got onions. I said I was a chef so they gave me some different kinds of veggies to work with!”
Bethan is finally starting to feel better and is considering going back to work, but is also at risk for a massive stroke. She said, “I’m kind of scared to go back to work… but if I don’t then what’s more terrifying, being poverty-stricken and on the street, you know?” Being a chef is a very stressful job and puts Bethan even more at risk, so she’s considering taking a course to become a social worker instead.
When asked what she’d like to say to all our generous supporters, Bethan laughed and said, “I would love to just give them a big thank you and I would love to hug them all, but it’s Corona!”
Thank you for giving people like Bethan a chance to heal, and continue to eat fresh, nutritious food!
