Oralis and her husband are a hardworking couple raising their three children, Litzy, 11, Olivia, 8 and Junior, 2 in Hays County. Oralis takes care of the children and drives them to school while her husband works in construction. Oralis relocated to Kyle during the 2008 recession due to its affordability, compared to the more expensive city living.
Oralis and her family started visiting the local Central Texas Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry when grocery store prices became too costly for their budget. Like many parents, Oralis finds it challenging to find a good job that also allows her to afford childcare. “The Food Bank's benefits help us much more in these difficult times. Now that everything is so expensive, the assistance they provide helps us a lot.” Oralis says.
With the healthy, nourishing foods the Food Bank provides, Oralis and her family are able to cook a variety of different meals to enjoy together. “We love to eat the beans, rice and fresh produce, Oralis shares. “My favorite dish for us is pasta with chicken, because I can make it using different sauces.”
Whenever the family gets the chance, they love to spend time together out of the house. “The kids love going to the park, but even if we wanted to go to another place, the way the economy is right now makes it hard for us to make it possible,” Oralis shares. Though they continue to navigate a tight budget and the difficult choices that come with it, Oralis makes sure her children keep a positive outlook. “I have always taught my daughters to give back,” Oralis says. “Maybe you can't volunteer right now, but you're going to be an adult soon and maybe one day it's your turn to help out.” The impact of her words is evident in the kids’ hopes for their futures. Litzy wants to become a police officer to serve and help others. Olivia loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. “I hope they can conquer their dreams. I will always support them in any way I can."
Oralis expresses her gratitude for the support her family receives from the Food Bank and her local community. “I am so grateful for the amount of work that all the volunteers do for us,” Oralis says. “I appreciate all the time they have donated to give us access to the nutritious food we need. Thank you very much for all the effort you put in; it is greatly appreciated."
