Gaylen, 63, and his wife, Alba, take immense pride in their five grown children, the youngest two of whom are attending Texas A&M University, studying speech therapy and electrical engineering.

Gaylen and Alba have set a strong example for their children of what it means to be resilient. The couple is tough and resourceful, having lived through significant trials in their lives, including early retirement as a result of failing health.

Retiring early wasn’t a part of their financial plan, and it’s put a big strain on their budget. “We’re trying to recover from that,” Gaylen says.

One way that Gaylen and Alba have shown their resourcefulness is by visiting a Montgomery County Food Bank partner agency, Compassion United — Terry’s Tables Food Pantry. Here, Gaylen is able to pick up healthy food for the family to help stretch his and Alba’s grocery budget.

“[Terry’s Tables] has been very helpful for me and my family,” Gaylen shares. “They’ve been really good to us.”

This holiday season, your generosity is helping make this type of support possible for Gaylen and Alba and countless more neighbors. Thank you for making a vital difference in Montgomery County.