When Marrissa first arrived at Cathedral Kitchen, she was facing more challenges than most people can imagine. A single mother of four children ages 14, 10, 8, and 2, she had recently relocated to Camden after fleeing domestic violence in northern New Jersey. She was navigating food insecurity, unstable housing, and a physical disability when a neighbor encouraged her to visit Cathedral Kitchen.
Like many first-time guests, Marrissa wasn’t sure what to expect when she walked through Cathedral Kitchen’s doors.
“When we first started coming here, I thought the meals were going to be bad because they were free. But I was surprised by the quality.”
Complications during the birth of her youngest daughter left Marrissa unable to walk and with significant vision loss. After two years of recovery, she’s regained her mobility but still has no vision in her right eye and limited vision in her left. Rebuilding her life while caring for four children and navigating a visual impairment has made it difficult to identify and access the resources her family needs on her own.
“Until I get approved for food stamps, coming to CK has made things a lot easier. The ready-made meals, groceries, and snack bags are much easier with four kids than trying to get all the way to a food pantry and then make a meal when we get back home.”
With the help of our Empowerment Coaches, Marissa applied for SNAP (food stamps) and is now working to address her family’s housing, healthcare, and other challenges that have been too daunting to address alone.
Meanwhile, Marrissa loves sitting down and sharing a meal in the dining room—even her kids enjoy it.
“Everyone is really nice, including the other guests. Last week my two-year-old met another kid her age. That was pretty cool. “
This year, we are serving a higher number of meals to families with children, reflecting rising food insecurity among low-income families. In 2025, we served 65,156 meals to families, nearly double the number we served in 2024. This increase is even more prominent during the summer months, as families manage the loss of school breakfast and lunch programs, and take on additional expenses of childcare and back-to-school costs.
As Marrissa continues to build a new life for her family in Camden, CK is honored to provide meals, resources, and a welcoming place where she and her children can feel supported, connected, and hopeful about the future.
