I never expected to end up in Manhattan, Kansas, especially coming from a place like New Jersey. My daughter was in her early twenties, married, with a beautiful baby and a brand new pit bull. Then, she found out her husband was going to be deployed. She was taking classes and set to start a new job and I knew I had to come help in any way I could. I came to Kansas and helped her move and get settled.
We moved her into a house in Manhattan. It was a terrible house… the “House From Hell” is what we called it. After a few months she decided to move to Ft. Riley so I went there with her and took a job in Junction City. When management was changed where I worked everyone was fired so I was out of a job. After that, I decided to move back to Manhattan but it’s been extra hard ever since, especially with all of the changes the government has made to unemployment insurance and benefits. Sadly, my son-in-law is scheduled to be deployed again soon but I will be around to help her out if she needs it again.
Now I am starting to take some classes in health education. It may help me to get a better job one day. If I could have any job in the world, I would want to work in the medical field or in law. I just want to do anything to help people. The Breadbasket has been a lifesaver for me, and I know it has been for so many others. One day I am going to get back on my feet. When that happens I am going to give back in any way I can.
As told to Steven Letourneau