Couple facing health issues, job loss seek food assistance at LCCM for the first time

Photo by Jeremy Long

Allan and Marcy Shindel visited Lebanon County Christian Ministries for the first time recently.

The couple have been struggling financially due to health issues since moving back home to Lebanon County from Florida two years ago.

In the fall, Marcy and Allan both ended up in the hospital for serious health issues. As a precautionary measure, Marcy had to take a leave of absence from her part-time job to protect both herself and her husband. Allan is still unable to work due to medical issues, but is looking for work he could do from home. In June, Marcy returned to her part-time job. 

“This is the new world,” she said. “I will put the mask on and go to work.”

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But the medical bills during their hospital stays – and other bills - just kept piling up.

“We just started getting bills and bills and bills,” she said. “I have Medicare. He’s waiting for disability. We’ve been getting desperate. All of our savings are being used now.”

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They turned to Lebanon County Christian Ministries for an emergency food order that supplies two weeks’ worth of groceries to get some relief.

“It meant so much to me that day,” Marcy said. “We really appreciated all the food. It was just so much food. I also got soap and detergent.”

The Shindel household is just one of 68 that has sought emergency food orders at LCCM specifically because of economic hardship as a direct result of COVID-19.
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While the future is uncertain, Marcy looks forward to the day when she can resume normal life again.

“I look forwarding to taking a nice drive or going on a nice walk,” she said. “I jut want everything to be normal and no so nerve wracking.”