Helping Her Son Thrive with SNAP: Ashley’s Story

When Ashley’s son was just a year old, her family faced a tough time when they unexpectedly lost their home.

“We had just gotten out of 11 weeks of homelessness, and we were trying to restock a completely empty kitchen,” explains Ashley. “We turned to SNAP and food pantries to do that.”

“It’s terrifying when you have to feed a family, especially your children, and you’re starting over completely,” says Ashley. “You don’t even have spices. It’s really daunting and overwhelming.”

Ashley's son helping pick out fruit at The Open Door Food Pantry in 2023.

By using the food shelf and SNAP, Ashley and her husband were able to provide their son with the food he needed to grow, including fresh fruits and vegetables.

“We got to introduce him to green beans and berries. Berries are still some of his favorite foods to this day!” she says. “[SNAP] allowed me to make healthier food choices for my son to give him that experience versus what’s convenient or what’s cheap.”

As a member of Second Harvest Heartland’s Neighbor Advisory Council, Ashley is passionate about connecting everyone with the support they need and fighting the stigma that exists around accessing food resources.

“There’s a stigma attached to asking for help and there shouldn’t be because you have to do what you have to do to feed your family,” she says. “That was how I looked at it—my son is my priority and putting food on the table for him is my priority.”

Ashley also points out that applying for SNAP allowed her family to qualify for enrichment programs for her son and freed up funds for activities like swimming lessons for him. “SNAP allowed for socialization and educational opportunities that we couldn’t have afforded otherwise,” she said.

Ashley’s son is now four-and-a-half years old. He loves taking the bus to his preschool and thrives when he’s able to stay busy. “He is the happiest little boy ever,” says Ashley.