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After a life in Outreach, a Resident Reaches Out

to the Food Bank of South Jersey

When someone spends a life helping others, it only seems her good Karma would come back around one day and visit her. It would make sense that he same compassion and outreach she had shown to many, would someday resurface in the form of aid when she needed it the most. Thankfully, Marzetta Frazier of Woodbury truly feels that kindness each month, thanks to the Food Bank of South Jersey and the food pantry it supplies, at the Spoken Word Evangelistic Church.

Marzetta spent many of her years working in outreach - mainly working in social and family services programs as a profession. Over the years, she would be responsible helping teems of residents in and around South Jersey who were battling drug and alcohol addiction. It was at Cooper Hospital, where she worked with pregnant women who were substance abusers.
But her passion ran deep, and when Marzetta was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995, even then that didn’t stop her from continuing her outreach; she went on to work until she physically couldn’t and continued to help the masses up until 1998, when her physical debilitation had rendered her handicapped and reliant on a wheelchair, home aides and nurses.

It wasn’t until a kind neighbor told her of the Spoken Word Evangelistic Church in Woodbury – and of the FBSJ having a food pantry – that she finally was able to get relief getting food and supporting her household with food items. “I had no idea that the food pantry was just one block from my house – at the church - and now that I know, I can get nutritious, quality food there. You can get chicken, canned goods, rice, spaghetti. It’s always healthy foods, too. After I get the food, my nurse aides can cook it for me and the family. Sometimes, when I am unable to get proper transportation or a nurse aide to help me get out of bed, the pastor’s mother will bring me what’s leftover. That has been so nice of them.”

Marzetta, who lives with her 22-year old son Thomas and his 1 ½ year old daughter, says it’s family support, in conjunction with the help of the Food Bank, that has helped to make her load easier to carry. Just knowing where to get the food is half the battle. “The food bank helps you financially, because it’s the food I normally would have had to buy for my home,” says Marzetta. “I use my experience with the Food Bank to alert others to the food pantries that may be near them. I want to reach out to people who also need food, and let them know about this great organization.”

A Letter from Diane E. Naylor:

To Whom It May Concern,

The reason I am sending this back to you is not to send a donation, but to let you know that you are correct in saying there are many hungry people here in South Jersey. My husband and I are only 49 and 50 years old, do not have any children, but know what is like to be hungry.

I was working at the same job for 30 years when I lost it 6 ½ months ago, taking with it all of my medical too. Now we have no insurance and I am supposed to be on a lot of medications. I have had to stop taking them, due to lack of money. I do receive unemployment every month, but this barely covers the regular bills. The bills come first (which I am behind on anyway), and food comes second. As far as food goes, there is very little of it in the house. My husband also lost his job, but cannot collect unemployment.

I have always been the type of person who donated to The Food Bank whenever I could afford it. But that ended when I lost my job. All of my savings in the bank are gone. I think we may have $10 in the bank at the most. And I have $3 in my wallet. That is all we have to live on until my next unemployment check in two weeks.

I feel bad for all the hungry children and the elderly who have no food. I never knew what it was like until I lost my job on April 1st. My heart goes out to them. I now know what they are going through and it isn’t pleasant.

I just want to say thank you for the work you do with these people and wish I could contribute even a few dollars. But at this time that just isn’t possible. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,

Diane E. Naylor