Mr. Velasquez has always been a working man, but was laid off from his job. “It’s hard for a man to ask for help, but I had to think of my daughter,” so he went to the Emergency Food Pantry on a few occasions when he had no other choice. When a part-time job with the Pantry became available, he applied and was hired. “I was treated well when I came, and I wanted to give back for the services I received. I have patience with the people that come here because I know what it is like.” He was eventually called back to his job, where he works part-time at night in the Milwaukee County Park System. “It felt good to help, especially when you see a smile on a kid’s face when the family receives
a 3-day supply of food.”

Kimberly and Erika are a mother daughter team. Kimberly is employed as a certified nursing assistant but says she wants “to be able to say I have a GED when employers ask!” After receiving her GED she plans to go to school to become a nurse. Her daughter Erika came to complete the math portion of her GED requirements. Like her mother, Erika has greater career aspirations and hopes to attend UWM. Erika knows that education is important to her success. The center provides her with a stepping stone and supports her determination that will last a lifetime.