At Lemontree, our clients are the stars of the show! Today, we’re sharing Amanda Ann’s experience navigating food assistance & finding Lemontree.

"I didn’t know how or where to start to find anything," Amanda Ann told us when recounting what brought her to Lemontree.

Amanda Ann, a mother of four from Florida, reached out to us when tough times hit. After losing her job, she started looking into food assistance and encountered a system that felt confusing and outdated. As a homeowner, Amanda Ann was told she was ineligible for SNAP, despite the financial hardship she was experiencing. Determined to find a solution for her family, she started looking for food pantries in her area, but she found herself "wasting time and gas" because so much of the information she encountered was outdated.

“I did a quick Google search and I found some random resources that weren’t that helpful. And then I came across you guys and your website. You’ve honestly been the most help out of everybody.”

When Amanda Ann signed up for Lemontree’s Food Helpline, our team connected her to the best food pantries nearby right away. Our up-to-date information meant that she didn’t have to gamble with her time & money when trying to put food on the table.

Not only did she get food for her family, but Amanda Ann also became an active participant in improving the system for others. She shared detailed reviews about her experiences and let us know if she noticed any changes, ensuring the accuracy of our information. For example, during Hurricane Helene, she consistently shared updates and even identified new resources to add to our directory, proving how critical client feedback is to our work, especially in crisis situations.

“Me and my 4 kids are home safe and that's all I can ask for. Things could have been worse for a single mom like myself. We prayed & have been playing board games...

I'm headed to Combee Connections to help pass out resources… I'll let you know if I hear of any open banks so you can pass the word to others in need.”

Clients like Amanda Ann also paint a fuller picture of what it’s like to visit a particular resource, so we know how to best support the next person who needs help. Her reviews highlight the power of small, thoughtful gestures that make a big difference in difficult times:

"All of the workers and volunteers were extremely friendly - they even passed out some water to participants waiting in line." (First Presbyterian Auburndale)

“They were very kid friendly! They had a table with coloring pages for kids and a few volunteers to sit with them. They also played baseball with my son while we waited.” (Dream Center of Lakeland)

Beyond connecting Amanda Ann to critical resources, one of the most impactful aspects of her experience with Lemontree has been the personalized support from our team. Our specialists prioritize making users feel heard and cared for during every interaction. For Amanda Ann, this human connection is just as impactful as the resources themselves:

"I'm constantly texting you back and forth and everyone's always been so nice, so kind, so sweet. I've asked questions before and you guys respond instantly. If I message after-hours, as soon as y'all clock in the next morning, somebody's right there answering my questions and concerns, or saying thank you when I show them a pantry I just found. So that's lovely too, to actually know that I'm speaking to somebody who cares and wants to give back."

At Lemontree, we understand how important it is to feel supported when navigating food assistance. It’s hard enough to ask for help, and our team works tirelessly to make the process as seamless and compassionate as possible. Amanda Ann’s experience is a powerful reminder of how much stronger our impact becomes when we build meaningful connections with the people we serve. Her resilience and generosity inspire us to keep improving food assistance for families across the country.