In 2016, after three years working towards a degree in human services while homeless, Derrick noticed his health beginning to deteriorate. Within a month, the discussions about his condition went from kidney stones to cancer. Derrick needed care he couldn’t afford.

That’s when Derrick found the Food Bank of Lincoln. They offered Derrick a job and referred him to Community Action Partnership who ultimately helped Derrick get his life back on track through their homelessness prevention and financial well-being programs. Now Derrick not only has a job, but one with benefits which were able to provide the care he needed, and one in which he’s able to give back to his own community. United Way funds organizations like Food Bank of Lincoln and Community Action Partnership in Lancaster County so that everyone in our community has access to the resources they need in the most trying times of their lives. Now, Derrick is in remission, and is in a position to give back to those in poverty, and give them the same hope he needed when he was where they are now.

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