Isabella Martinez, a 27-year-old woman, is on her way to achieving her family’s American dream. Her parents, Maria and Carlos, emigrated from Peru to the USA, seeking a better life for their family. Raised in St. Paul’s bustling West Side neighborhood, Isabella learned the values of hard work and perseverance. Her father worked at a factory, and her mother, worked part-time while raising her children.
Isabella had built a stable career in sales and marketing at a publishing company where she began working when she was 20 years old. She lived modestly and independently, balancing work with weekends spent with family, cooking traditional Peruvian meals, and dreaming of visiting her parents’ homeland. She aspired to keep working in publishing and marketing, and grow in the company, and use her success to help her family and give back to her community.
However, life took an unexpected turn when her company downsized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Isabella, along with several colleagues, was laid off. The news hit her hard, leaving her stunned and uncertain about the future. Adding to her burden was an underlying health issue requiring ongoing medical treatment, leading to an overwhelming pile of medical bills. The stability and security she once took for granted were no replaced with sleepless nights and worry about how to make ends meet.
“When I was laid off, I felt completely lost,” she shared. “I don’t have a formal education, and it took a long time to work up to where I was before at my former workplace.”
Isabella moved out of her apartment and in with her parents, who supported her despite their own challenges. Her father had retired and was on a limited income, and her mother also had health issues. With the loss of income, Isabella and her family turned to food shelves to ease their financial stress.
“We have been going to food shelves for the past few months,” she said. “Since we started visiting the Neighborhood House food shelf, I have been able to make some of my other payments and get back on track. We like the Neighborhood House food shelf because they have a lot of options and frozen meats.”
Isabella shared that she wants to go to college and was accepted at St. Paul Community College. She hopes to begin her studies in international marketing in the fall, seeing it as a path to rebuild her career and continue supporting her family.
