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Ministries Unlimited Thought For The Week (#10)

June 18, 2025

In the Midwest we grow up being taught self-reliance.  It is ingrained in our minds that you have to work for what you have, nobody is going to give you a handout.  Self-reliance does make a difference in how a person faces adversity in life because it makes us more capable of getting through hard times.  Despite everything that you do, there is always a chance that something will go wrong.  I often heard the phrase "God will not give us more than we can handle".  The real meaning is that God will help you through those hard times.  He teaches us to treat our neighbors as ourselves and to help others.  So how do we overcome the stigma attached to receiving help from others and our Midwest value of self-reliance?

Think of this analogy.  In every town, libraries stand as trusted, welcoming places—offering books, information, and resources without judgment.  Whether you're checking out a novel, attending a workshop, or using a computer, no one asks why you're there. You're simply using a community resource built for everyone.  Now imagine if we thought about food pantries the same way.  Food pantries, like libraries, are places of access—designed to help people when they need it, whether for a short season or longer term.  Yet unlike libraries, food pantries often carry a stigma. Some hesitate to walk through the doors, fearing judgment or shame.  When you walk into a pantry, you're not taking a handout—you’re participating in a cycle of care.  Just like checking out a book, receiving food from a pantry is about meeting a need.  You leave better prepared to face the day, to care for your family, to make it to the next paycheck or healing milestone.  And when life turns around, many people return as volunteers, donors, or advocates.

The idea that asking for food is somehow shameful is outdated and harmful.  In today’s economy, where food prices remain high and wages haven’t kept pace, more working families, seniors, and students are turning to food assistance than ever before.  They are our neighbors, coworkers, and friends.   We don’t shame people for using a library to learn.  So why would we shame someone for using a pantry to feed their family?  If we truly want to support our community, we need to talk about food pantries not as charity, but as part of the public good—just like roads, schools, and libraries.  They’re places where dignity is preserved, hope is restored, and no one has to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table.  So, the next time someone visits a pantry, remember this: It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of wisdom.  Just like borrowing a book when you need answers, using a pantry means you know where to turn when it matters most.