“Molly” is a Toni’s Kitchen Choice Pantry guest who is 66 years old. She registered at Choice Pantry in mid-September 2024. Molly shared that she has experienced a lot of big losses recently: the death of her mother at age 95 whom she cared for the last 10 years of her life and was very close to, the death of her stepson from a Fentanyl overdose followed by death of her husband immediately after from a heart attack/”broken heart.”
Molly lives in her mother’s former house with an “adopted daughter” and her four children. She was in a bad car accident in January 2024 on the Garden State Parkway. Another driver was texting and hit her car. Due to this, Molly reports that she has been diagnosed with “memory dyslexia.” She forgets to pay bills resulting in utilities shut-off and only paying part of her taxes. Molly shared that her diabetes is better managed since she lost significant weight and takes Metformin. She also stated that her late husband’s family has “abandoned her.”
Molly expressed her gratitude for the fact that Toni’s Kitchen provides so many healthy grocery options. She has completed her eighth individual counseling session with TK’s licensed professional counselor on Monday mornings to address her issues. Molly says these sessions have “a blessing.”
Molly also needed dental care so TK connected her to one of its onsite partnerships, Zufall Mobile Dental, where she has had two successful appointments. This past Saturday, Molly told TK’s Social Work Manager that she is feeling lonely, particularly at mealtime. TK’s Sunday evening meal was suggested. Molly attended and shared that it was nice to eat with other people, the food was “delicious” and that she took half of it home to enjoy another time. Molly said, “I think I’ll come back next Sunday and slowly ease into coming for lunch.”
Molly stated that she looks forward to participating in the Food, Health, Hope program which meets onsite at Toni’s Kitchen quarterly to help guests manage their pre-diabetes/diabetes and hypertension. She thinks that being under the care of her medical provider and being in this program would be beneficial, stating, “The more support I have, the better.”