Apr 29, 2008 7:01 pm US/Eastern
National Spotlight Helps Struggling Local Family
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WBZ) ―
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Lisa and David Castellucci were living the American dream -- a home, three kids and a business. Then the economic slump changed everything.
CBS
A Gloucester family says they are overwhelmed with the support they have received after being featured in a CBS News story focusing on struggling American families.
Every 14 days, Lisa Castellucci heads to the Cape Ann Open Door Food Pantry for donated food.
Where Lisa and her family are now is a far cry from where they were not too long ago – a middle class family with four kids, their own home and their own business.
Lisa's husband David inherited a successful auto body shop, but as the economy began to slump, his business started to suffer.
After falling tens of thousands of dollars into debt, he was forced to shut down. Needing money, the family told CBS News they resorted to draining their IRAs and using the money they were saving for their kids.
"I mean, it was humbling for me to get food stamps … humbling," David told CBS News correspondent Seth Doan. "I thought only really poor people needed food stamps, and then I started realizing, well, I'm a really poor person."
Since their story aired on CBS News, Lisa said she and her family have been receiving calls from all over the country and other parts of the world.
She told WBZ's Ken MacLeod people from Wyoming, Kentucky, North Carolina, California and even Jamaica have called asking her what they could do to help.
The Castelluccis said they are astonished by all the feedback and good will they have received, and they are not the only ones feeling the warm affects of the CBS News feature.
The Cape Ann Open Door Food Bank said they have also gotten inquiries and donations as a result of the piece. One donor called from Iowa and pledged $500.
The food bank said it really helps when a local face goes with a national statistic.
"The Castelluccis have put a face on something that has remained hidden in communities," said Julie LaFontaine with the Cape Anne Food Pantry.
CBS News learned of the Castellucci family through the Cape Ann Open Door Food Bank.
There are several other families who are in the same situation as the Castelluccis. The food bank said it hopes the story will prompt people to donate to their local food pantries.
"I just thought if we could take a dose of humility, then other people could learn from our story," Lisa said.
Still strong in their faith, the Castelluccis pledge to donate at least 10 percent of the charity that comes their way to people who need it even more.
To find out how you can help, click here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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