Susan has endured many trials over the last 18 months.

In April 2010, she and her husband, Bill, lost their Security home to foreclosure. The couple had only seven years of mortgage payments remaining to make to own the house outright.

The foreclosure was due to Bill’s construction business going under during the recession.

In June 2010, Bill was diagnosed with leukemia. He died one year later, hours before his 62nd birthday, which would have qualified Susan after Bill’s death to receive Social Security checks.

“This is the biggest nightmare I have ever lived through,” said Susan, 54. “And I want everyone to be prepared” that it could happen to them, too.

Bill’s and Susan’s names have been changed to protect her privacy.

Susan now lives in an in-law’s basement in Colorado Springs. Her savings are gone and she can’t find work.

“At this stage of my life, I never thought I’d be” in this predicament, Susan said.

Susan has been helped by the Care and Share Food Bank program, which supplies food to many southern Colorado locations that serve impoverished children, the working poor, low-income seniors, the sick, the disabled and the homeless. Care and Share, based in Colorado Springs, is one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette/El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.

Susan visits Faith Lutheran Church’s Fountain Valley Cares food pantry in Security. It was awkward at first.

“I had this overwhelming feeling of worthlessness,” Susan said. “I was used to giving to people, but now I was experiencing this reversal.”

Over time, she got used to the visits, made pleasant by the friendly volunteers and staff.

“If it weren’t for the food bank, I don’t know how I would survive,” Susan said.

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