Hope Center Client Story: Darlene

For Darlene Andamasaris, food assistance is more than a helping hand. It is a source of security, dignity, and peace of mind.

At 68 years old, Darlene lives on a fixed income and receives SNAP benefits. Like many seniors, she has watched food prices climb while her monthly grocery budget struggles to keep pace. Although she receives assistance, it often isn’t enough to cover an entire month of meals.

“I’m a senior citizen and I do get food stamps, but they don’t give us enough,” Darlene said. “At the end of a couple weeks, I run out of it.”

When that happens, local food assistance programs help bridge the gap.

Darlene regularly visits The Hope Center and other food distribution programs supported by Fulfill. She says the support allows her to keep food on the table without having to make difficult choices or repeatedly ask family members for help.

“Instead of getting nervous and upset or asking my children again, I come here,” she said. “God bless Fulfill and these volunteers.”

A former server with more than 40 years in the restaurant industry, Darlene worked hard throughout her life before a knee problem forced her to stop working. Today, she remains active in her family, especially helping care for her five-year-old granddaughter, whom she describes as “5 going on 20.”

Having a young grandchild around means keeping extra snacks and food on hand, making every grocery dollar stretch even further. That’s one reason Darlene is so grateful for the variety of food available through local pantries.

“They give you a meat, a drink, a bread, enough substantial food to sustain you,” she said.

The assistance provides more than meals. It provides relief from stress.

When her SNAP benefits run low and her grocery funds are exhausted, Darlene knows there is somewhere she can turn. That reassurance makes an enormous difference.

“Instead of getting nervous, I’ll come here and I have enough food,” she said. “It makes you feel secure.”

Darlene believes food assistance programs play a vital role, particularly for seniors living on fixed incomes. She worries about others who may be struggling quietly and says many of her neighbors also depend on local food pantries to supplement their budgets.

“With the prices of food going up, the food stamp money did not go up,” she said. “That’s where the food banks come in.”

Through every visit, Darlene has been touched by the generosity of volunteers, donors, and community members who make food distributions possible. She views their support as an expression of compassion and humanity.

“Fulfill actually helps people save their lives by eating,” she said. “What would we do without food banks and extra help?”

When asked what she would tell donors, Darlene’s answer was heartfelt and direct. She wants supporters to know that their generosity has a real impact on real people every day.

For seniors, families, and individuals facing difficult circumstances, the food they provide means less worry, less stress, and the ability to focus on living rather than simply surviving.

“There would be no hope,” Darlene said of a world without food assistance programs. “They help people with families, senior citizens, and even single people who are struggling.”

For Darlene, every donated meal represents something powerful: the knowledge that a community cares and that help is available when it is needed most.

Story written by Fulfill NJ, a Hope Center partner