I arrived from Venezuela where I had been a successful attorney, earning good money to support my family. But the government changed, and they did not want me, or people like me, not just me alone, around. I was arrested, and I was going to go to prison: That’s when I fled to the United States.
I was given political asylum when I entered, but permission to enter and permission to work are not the same thing, and my knowledge of Venezuelan law was not very useful here. It was very hard, both in having to ask for help for everything, but even worse, feeling like I was a beggar, a man of no use to anyone.
Food for Greater Elgin gave me food, but more than that, they welcomed me. They treated me like I was a friend. In their eyes, I was not a man of no value. With time, I was able to get a work permit and then get a job.
I’m OK now, but for a time, it was you who kept me alive.
– Guest of Food for Greater Elgin