Painting it Forward: Jocelyn’s Story

Leaning in close, Jocelyn’s brush steadied as she swept thin lines of black paint to form webs across a face full of bright red paint. Nearby, her friend Amber held up a mirror, angling it right so the eager little girl could watch the final details of her transformation come to life. And just like that, a little girl became Spider-Man – at least for the morning.

Most people expect to see face painting done at children’s birthday parties, not at a food bank. Yet, between the shopping carts full of food and volunteers coming from every corner, one neighbor brought some color and excitement to the morning lines.

Originally from New York, Jocelyn built a stable career in education, becoming a school director. For a while, their family lived comfortably within their means. But last summer, Jocelyn was unexpectedly laid off from her job. With a sudden loss of income, it has been challenging to make ends meet, especially with a daughter beginning her first year of college.

Determined to help fill the gap in her family’s income, Jocelyn turned to her friend Amber, who is navigating similar uncertainties. Amber recommended United Food Bank’s Neighbor’s Pantry distribution. Together, they began carpooling, driving nearly an hour to receive an assortment of foods they would otherwise struggle to afford at the grocery store, such as fresh produce, eggs and high-quality proteins.

Their experience at Neighbor’s Pantry quickly became about more than assistance. For them, the individuality of Neighbor’s Pantry and the choice of items that best fit their families’ needs are what keep them attending.

“I like the fact that we get to choose some of our stuff,” remarked Jocelyn. “It’s not just a given; everything’s just given to you. So, you have like a little bit of an option.”

One morning, however, as Jocelyn stood in line as usual, she noticed all the families, particularly energetic children running around her. That’s when she had a lightbulb moment.

Before becoming a school director, Jocelyn had been an art teacher. Over the years, she had painted faces at her children’s birthday parties as a fun hobby. But when Jocelyn lost her job, she realized she could turn her hobby into something profitable. This is when she started her small business, Playful Faces. Since then, she has worked at birthday parties and fairs, transforming eager faces into superheroes and animals.

Standing in that distribution line, Jocelyn saw an opportunity to give back and bring some joy to a space where many families, including her own, feel stressed and vulnerable.

“Look at all these kids, I could be painting faces. I thought, ‘Well, if I’m going to come, I should probably just paint faces while I’m waiting,’” Jocelyn recalled.

So, at the next Neighbor’s Pantry, Jocelyn and Amber brought a small table and her paint kit, as the two women waited for their first kid. It didn’t take long for eager kids to approach the table. Suddenly, Jocelyn and Amber had a small line of kids and some adults, transforming smiling faces into superheroes, butterflies and tigers. Since then, Jocelyn has been able to face paint in line when she can.

Reflecting on her own journey, Jocelyn shared,

“It’s easy to recognize the struggles and the strife that you are going through. So, it’s sometimes difficult to recognize the things you have to be grateful for.”

At the end of the day, the heart of United Food Bank and Neighbor’s Pantry is more than just the distribution of food; it’s about unity and showing up for one another as a community. And sometimes, showing up for others means picking up a paintbrush and having fun.   

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