Leah’s story

You hear stories about life turning upside down in an instant. Leah doesn’t just hear about it; she lives it.

A motorcycle accident ripped her husband Steve from work, leaving him with a brain injury and their family in financial freefall. Medical bills mounted, the family business folded, and hungry mouths loomed.

“We found ourselves in a perilous position of not meeting our bills, let alone putting food on the table,” Leah said.

Juggling finances was a tightrope Leah already walked with practiced steps. Caring for her two sons, the household budget, like many around the state, was always a balancing act. Add constant medical bills to support her son with level two autism and a chronic illness, and Leah was running out of options.

“I suddenly became acutely aware of the price of food and how easily those prices can bring on anxiety attacks,” she said.

Asking for help was daunting but a kind stranger’s words pointed her towards Foodbank WA.

“I was full of pride that I could fend for myself,” said Leah. “A lovely person heard my ideas and said, we are all individuals and not to compare. If I needed help, just reach out. So I did, and I have no regrets.  My family are no longer suffering in silence and I appreciate every week that I can go to Foodbank.”

The weekly hampers weren’t just food; they were survival kits:

“I  now stop missing meals in order to feed my family.  I have a vehicle that is registered because I had money to pay the registration so my husband can be taken to rehabilitation and my son to Fiona Stanley Hospital for appointments. Without accessing Foodbank, I would be unable to put food on the table or to pay my other utilities.”

Leah’s story is a powerful reminder that vulnerability is not weakness but a pathway to hope. The next time you see a Mobile Foodbank or hear about a local food drive, remember Leah. Remember the quiet victories made possible by the kindness of strangers.

Every day we help families like Leah’s.

Your generous donation can help ensure we continue support families across Western Australia.

Published on 12 March 2024.