ICA Stories: Gini

When Gini's family welcomed a new baby, it should have been a time filled with joy. Instead, they were also navigating an incredibly uncertain period as Operation Metro Surge disrupted their family's income. With her husband unable to work, every day brought new questions about how they would provide for their growing family.

A friend encouraged Gini to visit ICA.

She first came to ICA for groceries, but when transportation and other challenges made it difficult to get to the food shelf, ICA's food delivery program stepped in. Over the course of several weeks, volunteers delivered food to her family's home six times, ensuring they had healthy meals during one of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives.

"Having food delivered made such a difference for our family," Gini shared. "We had just welcomed our baby, and knowing we didn't have to worry about where our next meals would come from was such a relief."

The deliveries provided more than food. Through ICA's outreach, Gini also learned about the Digital Access Program and received a computer that is opening new possibilities for her future.

Today, she's using that computer to build new skills and prepare for employment. "I want to learn how to use the computer so I can find a job that uses those skills," she said.

Looking back, Gini says life has improved tremendously. The support her family received helped them weather an incredibly difficult chapter and begin building toward a more stable future.

For families like Gini's, ICA provides more than groceries. We provide timely support, meaningful connections, and opportunities that help neighbors move from crisis to stability. Because of our community's generosity, families across our service area know they don't have to face life's hardest moments alone.