Single mom puts face on troubled times

The first time I met Melissa McPherson was last year at the St. Joseph Catholic Church food pantry.

The second time I met her was at the same place Monday.

If you want to put a face on the struggles our economy has put people through, it's this woman, a college-educated mother of two who's been out of work for 1.5 years.

But Melissa did land a gig as a telemarketer one week ago.

"It's something for now," she said.

Meantime, she's doing whatever she can to feed her two children.

Which meant a trip to the church food pantry.

Melissa is proud woman, but she can't eat pride.

Nor can her two children.

Not at Thanksgiving.

"For a single mom on a fixed income and food stamps, this helps a lot," Melissa said.

So does knowing she's got a place to go to tide her and her family through these times.

"It makes you think, people actually care," Melissa said.

Here's hoping she's got it better next Thanksgiving.