A High Note: Candy Helps Support Her Daughter's Musical Aspirations

"I have a daughter who loves music."

This is the first thing that Candy tells me, as I sit down to talk with her during my visit to Mi Casita Food Shelf in Shakopee. Candy is a regular at the food shelf, as it is just down the road from her home in Chaska. 

"She's been playing the clarinet," she says, as she shows me a video of her daughter playing with her school band at an outdoor pavilion. "She's fourteen. The teacher tells me to support her hobbies, which I do, but our budget makes it hard."

Candy has been coming to Mi Casita for about a year. She currently has six people living in her house, including her daughter, and she is the main cook for everyone. "I like to cook a little bit of everything--I like to try food from other countries. I do a lot of recipe swaps with people [here]. My family doesn't have a choice--if they want to eat they have to try my experiments!" she says with a laugh.

The main thing that attracts Candy to the food shelf are the fresh fruits and vegetables, many of them supplied by Second Harvest Heartland. "Fish and chicken can keep in the fridge or be frozen. Veggies go bad so quickly. I love them, but sometimes you just don't have enough, especially right now with everything being so expensive."

Candy comes here for the things she "needs every day". "Between onions, potatoes, lettuce and fruits, it's expensive to buy at the store. Finding [the food] here at Mi Casita makes my day."

The money that Candy saves at Mi Casita helps go toward her daughter's education and love of music. "I can save money for the rented instruments. I understand her education is my priority right now. If I can save $25, well, that's the fee for one instrument. If I save a hundred dollars, that's a music class. She gets scholarships, but a lot of time that is only for half price. Where does the other half of the money come from? It has to come from somewhere."

Candy works in mental health, but like many families, she is finding that the pay is not enough to live her life comfortably. "I tried to start school too--to try to make more money, but it's not that easy. There are three women in my house--even the basic stuff is hard. Every time we have to go to the pharmacy or the doctor, it's $50 here, $50 there. Being able to come here has really helped me."

In the meantime, Candy's daughter will continue to experiment and try out various musical instruments that Candy is able to provide for her with the money she saves at Mi Casita. "She's great in school. She's in marching band. She's played the violin, she's played piano. The next thing she wants is an electric guitar."