Wafer

Kaylin is a college grad and single mom of a 5 year old boy. Money has gotten tight after his diagnosis of autism. “Taking care of a child with autism is a full-time job”, so she reduced her hours at work. She works at LHI (veterans health services), and they have been very understanding with this new concern in her life. Consequently, money is now tighter. She stated that her sons doctor recommended he try a gluten free diet, which has helped. However, since these items are so expensive she is unable to afford healthy food for herself. Kaylin is a vegetarian, and very health conscious, and has been bypassing the produce she needs when grocery shopping to get the things her son needs. Not to mention, the COVID benefits she relied on ended, “they really did help us.” “I had to scrap enough together to get dish soap and toilet paper today.” She has been coming to WAFER for 2 months and is grateful for the abundance of produce. She didn’t know that we offer gluten free items, and will be utilizing that in her future trips. Kaylin expressed some frustrations in navigating this newest situation in their life. Uncertainty, wanting a change, needing to find a way to support them better, maybe going back to school. We talked about utilizing her sons social worker for additional resources and checking with local businesses who might pay for her to get a nursing degree if she worked for them as a CAN. She thanked me for the information and the conversation. She began tearing up, “I think I was meant to talk to you today.”