Stories from Our Pantry
Having food allergies can be difficult—especially when visiting the food pantry. When Lucas came to the food pantry, he shared that he was gluten-free. Thanks to a generous and thoughtful donation from a food drive, we had gluten-free pasta, popcorn, mac and cheese, meat, and even cake mix. Lucas was astonished that we were able to find so many options that he could eat! Then Lucas asked, “You wouldn’t happen to have a can opener, would you?” and we did! We tend to keep spare can openers on hand for moments like this. Lucas was ecstatic and exclaimed that he was excited to make dinner that night.
Coming to the food pantry for your first time can sometimes be a little scary. When Emma and her child came into the pantry, they were unsure of what to expect. After they walked through the pantry, Emma was able to walk away with a couple of bags filled with non-perishable items, frozen chicken, bread from Panera, and fresh produce. Linda’s child was very excited about our “extra items cart” where he was able to pick out chocolate chip cookies. Upon leaving, Emma shared she was very appreciative for the help and fought back tears. Her son lifted his arms in the air and shouted, “This is the best day ever!” Moments like this make working at Pathways a rewarding experience.
*Names changed for anonymity
| 
