Genevieve enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program at Lane Community College to pursue her dream of becoming a chef and to make a better life for herself and her daughter.
“My daughter gave me a reason to succeed. I did this for her.”
Genevieve lives on a tight budget, especially when it comes to food. As a student, she puzzled together whatever resources she could to get by — scholarships, financial aid, food stamps and a food box from her local pantry.
“I’m so incredibly thankful for the food pantry. It helped put food on the table when the food stamps ran out. When you’re a student, to have a resource like that is really helpful. To keep food on the table, to keep your energy up, to stay healthy, to stay focused — it’s so important. I’m so thankful the resources were there when I needed them, but I really want to be able to support ourselves and be self-sufficient.”