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A newly divorced mother was staying in a hotel with her three children until she could find suitable housing. Although she was working two jobs, she had medical bills and hotel expenses to pay, leaving little to buy food. At Tabitha’s Way food pantry, she cried all the way through the intake interview.

Tabitha’s Way co-founder Mike Carter remembered this experience as he explained the importance of dignity for those who are in crisis. Unfortunately, people who are already dealing with trials often have the extra burden of feeling like they are being looked down upon if they need help from others.

However, at Tabitha’s Way, this isn’t the case. There, people can choose the food that fits their needs rather than being handed a box of random items. That way, they don’t feel “less than” others in the community who shop at typical stores. This is known as client choice shopping.

“Every morning, volunteers put food on our shelves for the 90 to 100 families that will arrive today. Our food pantries provide free food assistance to individuals and families facing food insecurity. We believe in treating clients with dignity and respect by offering client food choices, so our pantries look like small grocery stores,” states a recent Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry South County Facebook post.

In fact, Tabitha’s Way food pantries, originally founded by Utah County resident Wendy Osborne, were inspired by biblical scriptures in the book of Acts 9:36-41 in which a woman named Tabitha provided food and clothing to the needy. “Tabitha’s Way” is a metaphor reminding us of the opportunity and responsibility to serve our community with love, just as Tabitha served hers, according to the pantries’ website, tabithasway.org.

Jeremy Hall

“When people come into Tabitha’s Way, the majority of them feel embarrassed that they have to rely on someone else to provide food for themselves or their family. The average person comes into one of our three food pantries for three months, then they are able to get on top of what is causing their need,” Carter said. “Of course, some people are disabled or seniors on a fixed income or have lifetime medical needs, so they will come forever. However, most of those who come in have a short-term need.”

Carter said that many people think the people who come to a food pantry are lazy and just need to work harder or they wouldn’t be in the position they are in. “I am sure there are a few cases like that. But the vast majority are good working-class people who struggle to live paycheck to paycheck because of the high cost of food, medical care, housing, fuel and utilities,” he said.

Many older adults and veterans who worked hard and planned their finances well now find that their planning did not include the kind of cost increases they have experienced, and they are now clients of Tabitha’s Way. “We see many seniors that have worked hard all of their lives who have to receive food assistance because costs of medication and health care take a large amount of their monthly income,” Carter said.

Tabitha’s Way in Spanish Fork is also currently partnering with the Utah Food Bank to distribute food through a mobile pantry service in Payson. A mobile pantry is a temporary emergency response to an immediate need for food assistance and serves an area that does not have a brick-and-mortar pantry. At mobile pantries, pallets of food are dropped off, and then families drive through and food is placed in their cars.

“Although it is not ideal, it at least helps families with minimal resources get access to food close by,” Osborne said.

Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo as well as the three Tabitha’s Way locations — Spanish Fork, American Fork and Saratoga Springs — all provide client choice shopping. “The Utah Food Bank has emphasized to all food pantries in Utah that this is the best way to treat our neighbors in need,” Carter said. “We consider it a sign of dignity and respect.”