Olympia didn’t think about her resume when she was laid off last November.
She thought about food.
“How am I going to buy food for my family?” she said.
A mother of four, Olympia’s always been a provider: the helper to her friends, the person others lean on. Thanks to flexibility with a third-party UPS contractor, she was able to advocate for her son when the school system couldn’t fully meet his needs.
After the layoff, her problems ballooned.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are gone and replaced with shelf stable meals.
To cut expenses, Olympia brought her youngest child home from daycare. The decision saved money, but made it nearly impossible for her to search for work.
Now she is trying to navigate SNAP, but the new work requirements feel unclear.
“It’s vague,” Olympia commented. “I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to do or who to ask. It’s a struggle to seek help and it’s a bigger struggle to remain positive.”
Since being laid off, Olympia’s family visited Atlanta Community Food Bank and other places for the first time. “That was humbling,” Olympia said.
And it’s not always a perfect solution. Due to her children’s food allergies, the family can’t accept all donated food items.
From a steady job that allowed her to buy the right food for her family, Olympia’s story shows how quickly stability shifts.
