Elodia Lopez isn’t afraid of change. As a nurse, her job was fast-paced and always changing. But at home in Corpus Christi, Texas, one thing that never changed was that she and her husband were able to provide for themselves and their son, Junior. But then the COVID pandemic began. After weeks in the hospital, Elodia beat COVID – but it changed everything. Because of lingering health issues – including developing diabetes – she was no longer able to continue her nursing career. Yet, Elodia didn’t give up – because she wasn’t afraid of change. Elodia visited the food pantry operated by the @coastalbendfoodbank – which led to yet another change in her life. “I was able to find this nutrition education program that was doing a series on diabetes. Yes, I was a nurse, but I didn’t specialize in diabetes. So, I wanted to learn how to cook nutritious food for diabetes and how to keep my family healthy,” she said. Not only did the diabetes program help provide food for Elodia and her family, it also opened up Elodia and her son to a meal delivery and nutrition education program for kids. Once a week, the food bank drops off a box of ingredients with recipes and all the materials needed to learn about the food. It’s helped open her son, Junior, try new foods – and it’s a step towards being even healthier. “When you feel like everything is falling down around you, you have to be strong,” she said. “You have to look at what means the most around you, which is family for me. You just have to continue the fight.”