Meet Patsy!

At 84 years old, Patsy is a proud great-grandmother who lights the room with her

contagious smile, humor and love for her family. She is also a natural storyteller who is quick to talk your ear off (in the best way). Her husband, a retired Army chef, is her quiet counterpart and more reserved. But he is perfectly content letting his wife take the spotlight. Together, they balance each other out.

Laughing, Patsy recalled the early days of their marriage. “My husband said, ‘When I married you, you were a very quiet and shy person.’ I said, ‘No, I got married so that I could blossom.”’

Like many couples their age, they have faced life’s highs and lows together. As the years have gone by, sadly, they both have had their fair share of health challenges, especially in the past few years. Recently, Patsy was diagnosed with a heart condition requiring her to purchase expensive heart medications and doctors' appointments. As a result, her budget is tight, leaving little room to buy meals. Then came an unexpected turning point.

One day, Patsy was riding in the car when she spotted something happening at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Mesa. Outside, tables were set up in the parking lot, and volunteers moved quickly between boxes and bins. From a distance, Patsy thought they were setting up a ‘rummage sale.’ Intrigued, Patsy made the driver stop and turn around. But as she walked up, she realized the tables weren’t set up for a ‘rummage sale;’ they were setting up for a food distribution.

Since that day in 2022, Patsy and her husband have become regulars at the church’s food pantry. Before seeking food assistance, Patsy struggled to purchase items from all the food groups, including dairy, meats, and fresh produce. She could only buy these ‘luxuries’ when she had a coupon. Today, she doesn’t have to worry about missing out on nutritious food because of a missing coupon.

"It's like somebody gives us a gift every two weeks,” said Patsy with a wide smile across her face. “Now, we are able to discover and enjoy a lot of new products that I wasn't aware of and others that I wouldn't buy because of the price.”   

With the foods she receives from St. Matthew’s, Patsy loves being creative with her dishes, like putting peaches in her morning cereal. And when the grandkids and great-grandchildren come over, she makes a family staple: Mexican spaghetti. In this dish, she can use meats, cheeses, and vegetables from Waste Not and the food pantry.

September is Hunger Action Month, dedicated to raising awareness of food insecurity and inspiring the community to serve. For us at Waste Not, Hunger Action Month is also a time to reflect on the lives we serve every day, like Patsy. To learn more about how to get involved with Waste Not and make a lasting impact, visit our page at wastenotaz.org/get-involved.