Car Accident Leads to FM & Desperation

February 11, 2006

Car injury leaves mother in pain, dependent on food bank

by BILL REED, THE GAZETTE, Colorado Springs) > Dec 2005

Marcia was making it as a single mom. Her two kids were teenagers,

and she was working in the finance department at a car dealership.

But everything changed in the instant a " lady ran me down with a car

on purpose, " Marcia said. She informed the woman that the dealership

would repossess the car, followed her to the car lot, and the next

thing she knew she was rolling on the pavement.

Marcia ended up with rods and bolts in her back and a neck fusion.

She suffers from arthritis, fibromyalgia and back pain, along with

shortterm memory loss. She hasn't been able to hold down a job since

the incident 15 years ago.

" It's been a long haul, " she said. " If I could work, I would,

because I'd love to make more money than I do. "

She survives on Social Security and a pension, but it's hard to make

ends meet.

Marcia depends on her monthly visits to the Divine Redeemer Catholic

Church Food Pantry, partners of Care & Share Food Bank.

Care & Share provided more than 60,000 pounds of food in 2005 to

Divine Redeemer, one of Care & Share's 416 partners. The Care &

Share Food Bank is one of 13 area charities receiving grants from

The Gazette/El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.

" I've been going to Divine Redeemer for three to four years, and

they know who I am, " Marcia said. " They can tell when something is

wrong, and they are always willing to help you out. They're just

really good people. "

In October, Marcia took in her 8-year-old granddaughter. She says

the girl was being physically and mentally abused by her stepmother

and father (Marcia's son).

So, her meals from the food pantry have become even more vital to

her.

" Right now, I just hope I don't get sick or anything so I can take

care of my granddaughter, " she said. " At Divine Redeemer, they're

more like friends now than somewhere I go to get emergency food. It

just makes you feel good that somebody cares that much. "

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