this mother has three children that can look forward to dinner. why do you come to the food pantry? >> to feed my kids. >> normally, what kind of food are you able to afford? >> rice. >> repororr: in 2009, one in five children lived in households that relied on emergency food assistance. through food pantries, kitchens, shelters. and markets like this one, that rescues surplus food from m arby restaurants and farms. mother of five, cynthia caldwell, has a job at a nursing home. >> this goes a long way to feed my children. >> repepter: why don't you qualify for food assistance? >> $38 over. i make too much. >> reporter: i wanted to see just how she's making it work for her family. how are you? even though she had just come off a grueling shift at work. you went from a 16-hour shift to a food pantry. >> yes. >> why was that? >> because i needed the stuff. i feel overwhelmed sometimes.