What’s the point? Abuse & control

We get incredible support from the community. Our family of donors, volunteers, pantry hosts, companies, and churches invest time each month to make sure food is available in pantries across Hamilton County.

Occasionally I’ll get a report from a frustrated volunteer: “my pantry was just decimated” or “someone took everything.” Inevitably that leads to follow-up questions that go something like this: Why do people abuse our pantries? What’s the point if some people are selfish and take it all? Isn’t there something we can do to control the abuse?

This conversation can be challenging. It’s better to have over a cup of coffee, so pour yourself a cup, find a spot in your most comfy chair, and let’s get real for a few minutes.

When explaining the behavior, we start with the fact that while the Feeding Team has wonderful intentions, there are some people who will never understand why we do what we do. This is tricky to realize.

There are people who can’t or won’t respect the free-will nature of our “Take What You Need, Give What You Can” business model. I’m not talking about those with willful bad intentions and let’s set aside for a minute the kids whose mischievous vandalism gets taken out on a pantry. I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about our neighbors who, like most of us, need some help from time to time.

First things first, people who shop in our pantries have a secret. It’s not rocket science, but it is their secret burden to carry through this chapter of their life.

Here’s their secret: they’re afraid.

Afraid of being embarrassed, afraid of not having a meal for their family, afraid of being seen as a fraud, afraid of food insecurity, afraid of failure, afraid of desperation, or simply afraid of the unknown. Fear makes people behave differently. Fear drives the decision to raid a pantry or shoplift from a supermarket.

What’s the point? Our point, and our purpose, is to make food available for those in need. Undaunted by the small percentage of troublemakers, the point is to have multiple places where if someone is hungry, they can always find a meal. It’s not elegant; the fact is the point is simple. We work to meet a need head-on.

Do we condone the abuse? Not at all. Can we be at all 73 locations at once, acting as the pantry police? Nope. We choose to accept the fact that we can’t control people’s behavior. We choose to accept the fact that some people will abuse the system.

We also choose to believe that for every one neighbor that is misguided, there are many who respect the model, appreciate the service to the community that pantries offer, and choose to benefit from what Feeding Team does.

A few weeks ago, a weathered road-weary man in his 30s knocked on my office window after getting a few meals from the pantry at our office. I was startled at first, but he just wanted to thank us for what we do. He described how he walks from his place near downtown Noblesville a few times each week to get food – food that he describes as lifesaving. His comment, “I don’t know that I’d be able to survive if this wasn’t here for me,” should make us all pause, be thankful for what we have, and realize that the working poor are among us. Our lives are inextricably intertwined with theirs, whether we admit it or not. Now that he spoke to me, I see him regularly during the day selecting food from the pantry.

What we do is simple and what we do is hard. Raising money, acquiring food, distributing it, watching it vanish knowing that it helps many families and then repeating the process again and again. It’s the cycle of service and the heartbeat of what we do.

If you find yourself in need, maybe occasionally you are like I was, a member of the working poor, then Feeding Team pantries are especially for you. They are here for you, 24/7/365. They are completely anonymous – no shame and no guilt. We take no information and have no expectations of you other than you merely take only what you need please. Leave food for others that are also in need.

Some future day, we hope that you consider giving what food you can and sharing your blessings with others who could use some help.

The Feeding Team launched Pantry No. 73 recently, with No. 74 already secured, it will be deployed in the coming weeks. We are grateful for the support of our community, volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Thank you.

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With over 40,000 food-challenged neighbors in Hamilton County, FeedingTeam.org is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides outdoor 24/7/365 no-questions-asked free food pantries throughout the county.

The pantries exist to meet the food insecurity needs of gap families, neighbors who may not qualify for public assistance and could use a few meals before payday. The pantries serve as many food-challenged neighbors as possible, and our hearts are with those who, like my family, could not always make ends meet.

Thank you for supporting the pantries. We love serving with so many neighbors across Hamilton County. In future columns, we will share more stories about how your generosity served neighbors in times of need. The face of hunger in Hamilton County is not what you may think.

In practical terms, this straightforward way to help neighbors is having real impact on lives, families, and our communities. Thank you. A few meals can change the course of a person’s life. A can of green beans means so much more when you have nothing to feed your kids.

Would you like to get involved? Volunteer opportunities are available. We are evaluating new pantry locations. If you think you have a potential location, please contact us.

Mark and Lisa Hall are the Founders of Feeding Team. They may be reached at lisa@feedingteam.org and mark@feedingteam.org or by calling (317) 832-1123.