My older sister Marsha was a beneficiary of Food For Thought. Their support came at a time when our family needed it most. They provided more than just nutrition—they gave us comfort, dignity, and compassion during one of the hardest chapters of our lives.
Marsha and I were born 21 months apart. Marsha was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone condition. She was a sheltered child but despite her physical limitations, she blossomed into a strong-willed independent woman with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Marsha was passionate about helping others find love and ran a successful matchmaking business. She took care to interview every candidate, and her clients enjoyed having long conversations with her. She married over 200 couples!
When I was 25, I moved to California. Marsha followed a year later, wanting to get away from the ice (Michigan winters are abominable for someone who’s always worried about falling). With our family still in Michigan, I felt responsible for her, though she wouldn’t want me to say that.
In June of 2020, Marsha fell and broke several bones. She spent 2 ½ years at a nursing facility. With no income and all her hard-earned savings paying for the skilled nursing facility, she almost lost her apartment. My husband and I helped her through the eviction process and were able to get her back in her apartment.
Marsha had many food allergies and preferences. We tried different food programs but none were tailored to her diet, so she’d give the food away. She was miserable. I constantly made phone calls trying to find nutritional resources. Finally, an angel at Partnership HealthPlan of California referred me to Food For Thought.
We started receiving “food with love”—just like the beautiful motto. Even though Marsha was in Marin County, Food For Thought lovingly agreed to deliver groceries to me in West Sonoma County. I would cook healthy meals using the variety of fresh produce and deliver them to her weekly, along with pantry and freezer staples. The phone and delivery drivers were all aware of this effort and helped me immensely with their kindness. It was a wonderful three months!
The thing I loved most about Food For Thought was the connection. It was lonely caring for her at times, but Food For Thought made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I’d call and talk to Carlos, who always asked me, “How is Marsha this week?” That is the specialness of this place. It took a load off to know there was someone else, besides me and my husband, thinking about her.
Marsha’s condition went downhill after that, but while we were receiving Food For Thought’s services, I was happy. One of my better memories is Carlos’ voice over the phone as he patiently guided me in helping her.
Marsha passed away in March 2025. There aren’t any recent photos of Marsha and me, but I love this one of us when we were kids—because this just might be us as our truest selves.
Picture: Me (left) and Marsha (right).