Ramone Doesn’t Have to Search for Food Anymore

Ramone used to spend part of every day wondering where his next meal would come from.

At 61 years old, he has faced more challenges than he ever expected. A year ago, he lost his job. Soon after, he lost his home. Since then, he has been living on the streets of Phoenix, sleeping in a shelter most nights and spending his days at the Justa Center while searching for work and trying to rebuild his life.

But homelessness brought another challenge that was especially dangerous for Ramone. He is diabetic.

Without regular, nutritious meals, managing his health became increasingly difficult. Many days, he ate only once. Finding food often meant standing in long lines outside in the Arizona heat, waiting for meals that were not always available or designed to support his dietary needs.

Hunger wasn’t just uncomfortable for Ramone. It threatened his health, drained his energy, and made it harder to focus on finding employment and moving forward.

Day after day, he worried about where his next meal would come from, until compassionate supporters like you helped place fresh, nourishing meals directly into his hands.

Through Advance Community’s Stove to Table program, Ramone now receives healthy, homemade meals prepared with care by our Nutrition Program team and delivered to locations where older adults can receive them safely and with dignity.

The impact was immediate. “I get to eat twice a day instead of just once,” Ramone shared. “I have more energy when I eat another meal.”

For someone living with diabetes, those extra meals make a meaningful difference. Ramone says the meals have helped him feel healthier, lose some weight, and maintain more energy throughout the day.

They’ve also given him something he hadn’t felt in a long time: security. “They make me feel secure,” he said. “I know on those days, I don’t have to look for food.”

For Ramone, that peace of mind means everything. Instead of spending hours searching for his next meal, he can focus on looking for work, caring for his health, and taking steps toward a more stable future.

The meals have even introduced him to foods he never expected to enjoy. “I never ate veggies until I started eating these meals,” Ramone shared with a smile. “The first meal I received had Brussels sprouts in it, and I loved them. I look forward to the veggies now.”

Each week, Advance Community prepares and delivers more than 450 fresh, homemade meals to low-income seniors across Maricopa County. Made with seasonal ingredients and supported by more than 500 dedicated volunteers each year, Stove to Table helps older adults maintain their health, independence, and dignity.

Today, Ramone still faces challenges, but he no longer has to spend every day worrying about whether he will have enough to eat. Instead, he knows that a healthy meal is waiting for him.

And for someone working hard to rebuild his life, that simple assurance provides something just as nourishing as food itself: hope.

“I love the program,” Ramone says. “It’s nice for me.”