Cultivating a Way Forward: Ambria's Story

Ambria is no stranger to hard work. As a horticulturist for the city of Rosemount, she is responsible for the cultivation of the beautiful plants and flowers in the southeast suburb of the Twin Cities. 

Working for the city of Rosemount, Ambria was maintaining the plants near 360 Communities, a Second Harvest Heartland partner organization that provides wrap-around support to community members, as well as houses a food shelf that serves the Rosemount community.  “I had no idea what this building was,” she says. “I didn’t know it was a food shelf.” One of the workers at the food shelf saw her working one summer morning and approached her. “He asked me if I needed some food. It was almost like divine intervention,” Ambria says.

Like many people, Ambria didn’t want to admit that she needed assistance. However, she had been driven into massive amounts of debt due to extensive legal fees while fighting for custody of her daughter.

“The father of my daughter is pretty wealthy, and so he repeatedly sued me for custody of my daughter, even after I had raised her alone for five years,” she says. “Fortunately, I was able to use credit cards, good credit, and a good work history to keep my daughter, but with no family and a lack of emotional, physical, or psychological support, I was really kind of floating.” 

Ambria was able to piece together enough to live on through her job with the city of Rosemount, as well as a job at the Minnesota Zoo in nearby Apple Valley. But eventually, the legal debt became too much, and she was forced to file for bankruptcy.

“Keeping my daughter was so worth it. My daughter is worth more than money,” Ambria says.

Ambria finds food, comfort, and community at Rosemount 360 Communities food shelf.

The legal debt had a massive effect on Ambria’s savings, and at times she found herself without enough food for her and her daughter to eat. “I was on a video call with my therapist one day. We opened up my fridge and my cupboards, and there was nothing there. My therapist brought me food, but she was like, ‘You have to go to [360 Communities].’ I was just too ashamed and embarrassed. But I humbly made my way back to this building, where they embraced me with open arms and a kindness I hadn’t even experienced from my own family.”

Ambria remembers the kindness she and her daughter felt during their first visit to 360 Communities. “They offered my daughter school supplies, stuffed animals, and books. They gave her this teddy bear—it said ‘2023’ on it, but it didn’t matter to her what the year was. She just loved getting the little bear and coming and playing on the playground. It never felt like a food shelf.” 

360 Communities provided not only food for Ambria and her daughter, but comfort and community, especially during a difficult holiday season. “There were claims in court that were untrue and eventually disproven. However, my family turned their backs on me because of them. It left this mark on me. But [360 Communities] gave us a turkey for Thanksgiving. And they just let me keep coming back.”

As someone who works with plants, Ambria knows the importance of not only fresh produce, but that nurture and care allows things to grow. Ambria’s daughter is now eight years old, and she still has the bear given to her by 360 Communities.

“It is always good food. I would come here and I would eat things that I would never normally buy when I was buying my groceries. It was really nice,” says Ambria. “Had this service not been here, I don’t know that I would’ve made it.”