Two jobs aren't enough: single mom uses MEND programs to fill in the gaps

Kelsey and her son have found a community they love in Leavenworth. Unfortunately, despite having two jobs, it's still hard to afford to live in the Upper Valley.

Kelsey first lived in Leavenworth when she was in her twenties. At that time, her aunt told her about the Community Cupboard food pantry. “[Shopping at the Cupboard when you need to] is how you make it here,” she told her.

Kelsey eventually moved to Skykomish and started a business cleaning vacation rentals. During the pandemic lockdowns, her business went under.

“Everything crashed during COVID,” she said.

In Skykomish, she says, “there were not a lot of opportunities.” Her father also died by suicide around the same time. As a result, Kelsey became homeless. She points out that it happens to a lot of people—things can go sideways and suddenly you don’t have a place to live anymore.

“It’s a very teetering situation that’s easy to fall into,” she said.

When Kelsey moved back to Leavenworth after the COVID pandemic with her newborn son, the Community Cupboard became even more important. In addition to food that both of them could eat as her son grew, Kelsey also used the Cupboard for diapers, toothpaste and other hygiene items.

To make ends meet, Kelsey has two jobs. She also lives in a bunk house provided by the Forest Service—one of the places she works—because she can’t afford the local rental prices.

Kelsey’s job at the Forest Service provides housing for her and her son, but it also feels like a somewhat precarious position due to the recent budget cuts and federal discussions about the future of the organization.

“Within a year’s time frame [at the Forest Service], I got fired twice and furloughed once,” she said.

In addition to the Forest Service, Kelsey supplements her income as a massage therapist at the Post Hotel. However, as the single mom with a four-year-old already working one job, her availability is limited.

Kelsey is also in school full time—she’s working to get her bachelor's degree in botany in an online program through Oregon State University. When she graduates, she’ll be the first person in her family to earn a bachelor's degree.

Eventually, Kelsey wants to work in the nonprofit sector. She’s hoping to find a way to combine nature, natural resource management and helping delinquent youth or foster children who have aged out of care.

“I think that’s the only place to go, after having experienced trauma and shitty circumstances—helping people where you’ve been,” she says. “It kind of transmutes all that wasted energy into something that’s productive to society.”

Nurture in nature

Kelsey’s love of nature is what drew her back to Leavenworth to raise her son. She said even when things were really tough, she could always strap him into a backpack and head out into the forest.

“When we were really struggling when my son was between zero and three,” she said, “He was really thriving outside. We’re really enthused about nature surrounding our lives in every form. This area has always been my favorite place to live.”

Kelsey has had a steep learning curve when it comes to learning how to get by. Her mother always worked two jobs, but Kelsey doesn’t feel like she had much stability growing up. She’s had to teach herself about financial literacy and figuring out how to make it all work—and sometimes, it still doesn’t.

“You can be doing everything you can within a 24-hour day and still have it not be enough.”

MEND’s programs have been essential resources for Kelsey and her son. She shops at Das Thrift to keep costs low. Not only can she buy clothing and goods for herself and her son there, it’s also a place that she takes him for special occasions—he calls it “the toy store.”

Kelsey still uses the Cupboard, too.

“MEND’s produce is always on fire,” she says.

She also appreciates that the people who work and volunteer at the Cupboard are always so nice. Nevertheless, Kelsey still sometimes feels self-conscious about needing help.

“Honestly I still have that shy feeling,” she says. “Like am I able to be here?”

Kelsey’s is not the only one who has admitted to being self-conscious about getting help, but meeting the community’s needs with dignity is MEND’s mission—and for many people like Kelsey, the programs are the key to being able to live in the area.

“These programs are essential to be able to make it,” Kelsey said. “Especially with a kid.”