LAKELAND, Fla. – Jennifer’s struggle started when she was 2 months old. A house fire killed three of her siblings and left her badly burned. Her parents, both alcoholics, couldn’t handle her disfigurement and neglected her even more.

Jennifer Dunn, right, works alongside Seeds Sowers founder Rev. Bender to provide some 4,200 meals a month to locals in Lakeland, Florida.

As a young girl, she took it upon herself to care for her two younger siblings.

At a local bar, Jennifer would squeeze into the crawl space, searching for change that patrons dropped on the floor the night before.

“I would gather the money to get food for me and my sister and younger brother,” she said. “If I couldn’t get enough money, I would climb into the dumpster and collect cans and old bread.”

Even though she strived to provide for them, they were all malnourished. Her growth was stunted and she was behind in school. In fact, she didn’t learn her ABC’s until she was in the fourth grade and was less than 5 feet tall when she graduated.

Eventually, the state intervened on her behalf; she was placed in a group home and later was adopted at 18 years old.

Today, Jennifer works to help people in those same types of dire situations. She volunteers with Seed Sowers, a Florida-based ministry where her efforts help provide an average of 4,200 meals a month to local people in need. For more than 6 years, she has been working with families in crisis.

“I know what it’s like to be hungry and I know what I can do to help,” Jennifer said. “I love doing what I’m doing. I wish I could do more.”

Operation Blessing helps keep the ministry stocked by delivering 4 tractor-trailer truckloads of food each month to Seed Sowers.

The Hunger Strike Force transports a weekly average of 2 million pounds of food and other product across the U.S.

“My heart goes out to all the people who need help,” Jennifer said, “but there was one lady who made a huge dent in my heart.”

After hearing about Carolyn, Jennifer went to her home for a visit. When she arrived, she saw the elderly woman, who suffers with diabetes, sitting in a wheelchair, barley able to care for herself. Carolyn, who is almost blind, recently had her leg amputated and couldn’t walk.

“She told me she was starving,” Jennifer said. “She said no one would come to help her.”

For the past few months, Jennifer has been nursing Carolyn back to health. She went from 83 pounds to 105 and is still gaining.

“One day someone might need your help and it’s your obligation to show someone the same love and compassion that has been given to you,” Jennifer said. “I do what I do to make a difference.”

Each week, the Hunger Strike Force delivers an average of 2 million pounds of food and other product which is then distributed to more than 100 partnering organizations across the U.S.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

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