From $70K to food bank (in 2 months), one family's struggle

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/03/27/foodbank.family/index.html

From $70K to food bank, one family's struggle

ALTADENA, California (CNN) -- When she was laid off in February, Patricia Guerrero was making $70,000 a year. Weeks later, with bills piling up and in need of food for her family, this middle-class mother did something she never thought she would do: She went to a food bank.

Patricia Guerrero was laid off in February. Desperate to make ends meet, she recently went to a food bank.

1 of 2 It was Good Friday, and a woman helping her offered to pay her utility bill.

"It brought tears to my eyes, and I sat there and I cried.

Story Highlights
Patricia Guerrero went from making $70,000 to drawing unemployment checks

Desperate to feed her kids, she recently went to a food bank for the first time

Expert says charities are reporting a rise in middle-class families at food banks

Guererro: "It just happened so fast. It happened in a matter of -- what -- two mon