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The first week Samantha and Dee arrived in Hornell, their children were staying with family while they worked to piece together something every family needs — a place to call home.

“We had nothing,” Samantha said.

No furniture. No food in the cupboards. Just determination to rebuild.

What they found next was a community that met them with open arms. Through Catholic Charities and the Turning Point program, Samantha and Dee began to steady their footing. Support came in many forms — help navigating insurance, access to food, connections to therapy for PTSD, and even guidance through legal challenges. Each piece, small on its own, came together to create something life-changing: stability.

Today, that stability looks like a home filled with the rhythms of family life. Dee manages a store in Hornell. Samantha, who lives with a disability, continues to advocate fiercely for her family. Their kitchen is no longer empty, thanks in part to support from their local pantry, which helps stretch SNAP benefits and keeps fresh food on the table.

“My daughter loves the salad options,” Samantha shared. “And we’re obsessed with the zucchini noodles.”

What began as receiving support has grown into also giving it. Samantha has helped connect her sister to vital resources, and Dee regularly donates clothing and supplies when their kids outgrow them.

“As much as we’ve been helped, we try to help others too,” Dee said. Whether they are passing along clothes or sharing extra boxes of pantry staples with neighbors, giving back has become part of how they continue to grow.

For their family, support didn’t just meet a need — it created a path forward.

“To some, it might feel like a small donation,” Dee shared. “But to us, it’s a lifeline.” Because of that lifeline, Samantha and Dee were able to rebuild, settle in, and create a home where their children can thrive.

Thank you for helping ensure neighbors have the food and support they need to build stronger, healthier futures.

To read the full Fall 2026 Harvester click here.