Gigi’s journey with Catholic Charities began as a volunteer at St. Brigid’s Parish, one of our cherished distribution sites. With a warm smile and open heart, she helped hang flyers and rally the community when the site was first opening its doors. She never imagined that one day she would find herself on the receiving end, needing the very support she once offered so joyfully.

“But I did lose my benefits for a little while, due to my lack of getting the paperwork in on time, and during that time that I did not receive them, I really realized how much I count on them,” Gigi explains.

Earlier in the interview, she explained that nowadays she can get along with less and make things work, but no one in our senior community should have to go through this.

In 2025, food insecurity has quietly returned to levels we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic. More than 850,000 people in San Diego County and over one in five residents in Imperial County are struggling to put food on the table. In San Diego alone, around 400,000 neighbors rely on CalFresh, while countless others turn to food pantries just to get by. In recent months, the number of families and individuals coming to Catholic Charities food pantries has tripled—a heartbreaking reminder of how deeply this need touches our community.

As Gigi continued sharing her story, her voice carried both vulnerability and gratitude. She explained having to get over “being the person that passes out the food, and it’s happy times, to I really need your help right now.” But she was extremely grateful that the EFDN+ Program was there for her when she needed it.

“I’m very fortunate that I live in a building that is geared for seniors, and we have several seniors who receive the food packages. And we have a wonderful person named Downy, and he delivers every Tuesday.”

That’s the heart of the EFDN+ Program: we meet people exactly where they are. For seniors who can’t travel to a distribution site, we bring the food right to their door, ensuring no one is left behind.

With 22 distribution sites and 15 pantries across San Diego and Imperial Counties, the program reaches families, seniors, and individuals of low-to-moderate income. It even extends to those staying in our shelters, offering nourishment and hope in their time of greatest need.

For so many in our community facing food insecurity, Catholic Charities’ EFDN+ Program is more than assistance—it’s a lifeline, a gentle hand extended in difficult times. Since September, we’ve seen demand at our pantries and sites triple, and every box of food shared carries with it dignity, care, and the quiet promise that no one has to face hunger alone.

If this story has touched your heart as it has ours, would you consider helping us continue being there for Gigi and so many others just like her? Every gift, no matter the size, brings warmth and nourishment to a neighbor in need.