| How Daily Bread Saved A Family - The Story of Marla Tallant |
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Summary: A Story of Hope and Triumph
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The inspirational story of Marla Tallant. |
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Adversity strikes quickly. |
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How Daily Bread helped rebuild a family. |
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Daily Bread covers operating costs by charging 501-C3 organizations only 18 cents per pound of food.
Since 2000, the number of food-insecure households has climbed to 6.18 million. |
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May/June
2007 N.5 |
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How Daily Bread Saved A Family - The Story of Marla Tallant
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While the Daily Bread Food Bank and their affiliates make a huge difference in people's lives every day, they sometimes provide much more than just food. Marla Tallant, Warehouse Manager for the Broward Branch, can certainly attest to that.
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A Normal Life, Interrupted
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| Marla grew up in a regular, middle-class family, with a great childhood. An excellent student, she graduated high school at the age of sixteen, and went to work shortly thereafter. Her intelligence and hard work landed her a job as a Program Analyst for the Navy, and she moved up quickly. Promoted to management before the age of thirty, she directed a large staff for fourteen years, and had all the material possessions that come with such a successful position. But Marla had injured her back in a car accident at the age of seventeen-little did she know that this injury would come back to haunt her later in life.
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Difficult Times Strike Quickly
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Following a divorce, Marla moved to Florida. At the age of thirty-six, she became pregnant with twins, after many years of trying to have children. It was at this point that her previous back injury reared its head, causing major complications with her pregnancy. Marla was put on bed rest by doctors almost immediately, and was unable to work. The strain of the pregnancy on her back was causing multiple, painful problems.
Doctors even told her that to she could permanently lose the use of her legs unless she delivered by C-section. But on February 29, 2000, she gave birth to a healthy set of twins, even though they were a month early. Her "Millennium Leap Day" twins had arrived safely-- but Marla's struggle was just beginning.
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Marla Tallant with her twins
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Now plagued by a permanent back injury, Marla was in constant pain. Even though she had a serious health problem, she didn't qualify for Social Security Disability. And, try as she might to find employment, the jobs she found didn't pay enough to cover the cost of day care for the twins, let alone living and medical expenses. As if that weren't enough, Marla was also now locked in a bitter custody battle for her twins, adding legal fees to her mounting expenses.
So Marla began to sell off any possessions of value in an attempt to make ends meet. She began going to a food pantry in Hallandale in order to make sure the twins were fed. She still didn't qualify for any help from any government agencies-sadly, she was one more person who was falling through the cracks in the system. Still unable to work, Marla was facing eviction-and also dealing with the threat of having her children taken away by Child Welfare, since she was struggling to provide for them every minute. Things couldn't have looked any bleaker.
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A Life-Changing Opportunity
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Then, in 2004, a friend told her that Daily Bread Food Bank had a job opening. Even though she was still in pain, still struggling, and both physically and mentally exhausted from all she'd been through, Marla decided to apply for the job. She was hired. At first, adjusting to the work force was challenging-she had not worked for most of the previous four years. "But", Marla said, "the people at Daily Bread were wonderful. They just told me to keep trying. They were patient with my limitations, and they gave me a chance."
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Daily Bread Staff: A Great Family
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And try she did-with great results. Grateful for the opportunity, Marla worked hard. She was promoted after only a year, right in the middle of Hurricane Wilma. Today, both she and the twins are thriving. Marla and her children are often seen at Daily Bread fundraisers, with the kids helping out as advocates as well. Marla's entire life has turned around, and not a moment too soon.
"If not for the opportunity that Daily Bread has given me, I would have been evicted, and even lost my children," states Marla today. "But", she adds, "the best part for me is seeing other families receive the food they so desperately need. I know what they're going through; it's so rewarding to be able to help. All I needed was a chance. When you've lost almost everything, you truly appreciate all that you have." |
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Be Part Of The Solution
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| Marla's story is truly inspirational. But it's only one of many about all the ways Daily Bread helps people, day in and day out. There are countless others whose lives have been changed by the hard work and dedication of this incredibly efficient organization. You can help make sure this work continues by helping with donations of food, money, or your time. Who knows? You could be the catalyst that changes a life! |
Kind regards,
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Judith
Gatti
Executive Director
Daily Bread Food Bank |
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Daily Bread Food Bank commemorated Hunger Awareness Day 2007 on June 5th by holding a press conference, which featured US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service Administrator, Roberto Salazar. Mr. Salazar, who was appointed to his position by President Bush, educated Daily Bread Food Bank and member agencies on the importance of national food stamp programs and how they can be better utilized by the needy in South Florida.
Also speaking on the importance of the food stamp program awareness was Daniella Levine, Executive Director of the Human Services Coalition. Ms. Levine's passionate speech encouraged everyone to help raise the level of food stamp participation by reaching out and educating those in need. |
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State Representative Yolly Roberson also spoke on hunger awareness and the importance of participating in available programs like Daily Bread's exciting new "Skip-A-Meal" program. Skip-A-Meal, which was launched at the press conference by Daily Bread Food Bank board president and event emcee Susan Hantman, is a new county specific way for someone to donate.
By skipping a meal and donating the monetary savings of that missed meal to Daily Bread Food Bank, one can help a person in need and possibly feel some of the same hunger discomforts they feel daily. To participate in this exciting program right now, follow this link and click on your county of residence. |
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Speakers at the Hunger Awareness
Day 2007 press conference.
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Others speaking at the press conference included Florence Moss, who spoke on behalf of State Senator Larcenia J. Bullard, Robyn Melvin of the Hollywood Hard Rock Café, and Jennifer Behar of Jennifer's Homemade. Ms. Moss expressed her and Senator Bullard's support for hunger awareness and pledged additional support from the Senator on future food bank endeavors.
Robyn Melvin and Jennifer Behar both spoke on the importance of hunger awareness and support from the business sector of South Florida. |
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Ms. Tallant with her children
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In addition to these pleas for hunger awareness, Marla Tallant and Maria Nieves shared their stories with the audience about the importance of food stamps, help from pantries, and how they once struggled to get by. Their heartfelt accounts put a face on the issue and showed that anyone and everyone is susceptible to going hungry if an unfortunate and unexpected circumstance occurs in one's life.
Hunger Awareness Day has gone a long way to help make the community aware that South Florida hunger is a real and growing problem. |
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The local television and news outlets that covered the event have also gone a long way to help spread this message. These included CBS 4, ABC Local 10, NBC 6, and the Miami Herald. Their continued help and support will raise hunger awareness in the community, and in turn, help feed a
lot of hungry South Florida residents. |
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"After cooking all year long for people who can afford great meals on a regular basis, it is important for us to realize that there are more than 12 million people (mostly children) in our country alone that have a hard time getting a single nourishing meal each day. Working to meet their needs is a way we can use our skills to try to be part of the solution."
A native of Clermont, Florida, Zach Bell is the Chef De Cuisine of Café Boulud in Palm Beach. His love for giving back to the community is matched only by his passion for creating the finest culinary dishes in South Florida. |
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We would like to thank the following POP Superheroes that generously donated online after the third issue of POP.
| Michele Friedlander |
Susan Rutigliano |
| Richard Wiseman |
Cindy Wills |
Thanks to them, we could provide enough food for an additional 3,390 meals to those less fortunate in South Florida. Become a POP Superhero!  |
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What percentage of Florida residents who are eligible for the food stamp program take advantage of it?
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A.
45% B. 50% C. 60% D. 75%Answer |
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Daily
Bread Food Bank
Randy Miller
Special Events/Communications Coordinator
5850 NW 32 Avenue
Miami, FL 33142
Tel. (305) 633-9861
Fax (305) 633-0036
rmiller@dailybread.org
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Daily
Bread Food Bank, a not-for-profit organization,
empowers other South Florida not-for-profit organizations
to feed needy people and improve their lives.
We do this by providing food and other grocery
products; and by educating and engaging our community
to fight hunger and poverty.
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Foremost we respect your privacy.
Daily
Bread will never rent or sell your information to anyone.
Changing your email? To update your contact information, email
us with
your changes at rmiller@dailybread.org
(c) 2007 Daily Bread. All rights reserved.
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