A recent story from one of our partner pantries illustrates the value of caring that the Food Bank strives to foster.
Pantry Coordinator, Jessamine Stone, shared how giving people dignity can change the dynamic of a situation.
A woman came in for the first time with her adult son. He didn’t appear comfortable about being there. Jessamine made it a point to listen to him and validate his concerns.
As it turns out, he was anxious about how long it would take and if it would cause him to be late for work. Jessamine offered an option to place an order via email.
When they left, Jessamine felt bad that they wouldn’t be coming back, but the following week he was there with a smile. She explained,
“There were so many ways I could have handled the situation, but I decided to hear and validate.”
Many of our partners have received training in trauma-informed care which helps them identify anxieties and look for helpful solutions for people we support.
For more information on our agency values, visit our website at https://www.foodbankst.org/about-us/.