Adjusting the Lens: It’s More Than Just Money Management

Myth #3: People in Poverty Are Just Bad with Money

"They should manage their resources better." ♥

A common myth about poverty is that families are financially unstable because they mismanage their resources. The reality is that many families do everything they can to make responsible choices but can still face barriers due to life’s unpredictability.

Take Carla* and Marcus*, a couple working hard to provide for their four children. Marcus works full-time as a paralegal, earning $58,000 a year. Carla had been working as an office manager, with her mother helping care for their three children. But just before the birth of their youngest, Carla’s mother passed away, leaving them without the childcare support they had relied on.

During Carla’s pregnancy, complications led to frequent doctor visits and a prolonged hospital stay. Despite having insurance, the family accrued over $10,000 in medical debt. Without childcare options, they faced an impossible decision: pay $2,400 per month for childcare or have Carla stay home, eliminating her income.

The Reality Behind the Myth:

For families like Carla and Marcus, it's not about poor financial decisions—it’s about overcoming unforeseen challenges. Rising childcare costs, medical bills, and the loss of critical family support are common realities. In Pennsylvania, the average cost of childcare exceeds $12,000 annually, and medical issues account for 66.5% of U.S. bankruptcies, illustrating how easily financial stability can unravel.

By supporting The Food Hub during ExtraGive, you help families like Carla and Marcus overcome life's unexpected barriers. Your contribution provides more than food and clothing—it offers a lifeline, helping families stretch their income and meet basic needs, so they don’t have to make impossible choices when life doesn’t go as planned.

*Note: Names have been changed to respect privacy.

Save the Date: ExtraGive on Friday, November 22nd!

From Donations to Sustainability:

Volunteers Repurpose Imperfect Produce ♥

Every day, dedicated volunteers at the Food Hub carefully inspect and sort through large volumes of donated produce, ensuring that only the freshest, highest-quality items are packed and shared with our neighbors in need. Each piece of produce is meticulously examined, and volunteers hand-select fruits and vegetables that meet our standards for distribution. Once sorted, they package the produce into individual-sized bags, which are then added to each food order to ensure a balanced and nutritious selection.

For any produce that doesn’t make the cut, we’ve partnered with a local farm to repurpose these donations in an eco-friendly way. Instead of letting imperfect produce go to waste, it is sent to the farm, where it’s used as feed for chickens and pigs. This innovative collaboration not only diverts waste from landfills but also supports local agriculture, helping to close the loop on the community’s food cycle. Together, we’re making a positive impact on both people and the planet—one donation at a time!

Thanks to You: $1k Match Achieved! ♥

You did it! Thanks to your incredible support, the Food Hub has officially won this year’s Kitchen Kettle Scarecrow Contest (again!) With your votes, over $5,000 was raised, including a $1,000 matching gift from the Woodstream Foundation. Because of your efforts, Kitchen Kettle donated an extra $1,000 match, making the impact even greater! A big thank you goes out to Kitchen Kettle for hosting this fun and creative fundraising event, which included several other amazing nonprofit partners working to make a difference in the community.