It’s Not Just About the Groceries
There’s one thing our customers talk about the most when they describe shopping at The Store. (Hint: it’s not the free groceries.)
Last week, a customer texted our incredible Program Director, Jasmine Ledsinger, this thoughtful message. It could’ve been written to any one of our team members—staff, volunteers, board members alike.
It said: “Every time I walk into The Store, you make me feel like more than just a client—you make me feel like family. Your generosity, your kindness, and your genuine heart create a space where people like me can breathe, hope, and rebuild with dignity.”
That part—rebuild with dignity—has stayed with me.
We’ve been hearing messages like this often of late. In testimonials. In anonymous surveys. In unprompted texts and emails. Yes, people talk about the groceries—how they got through the month, how their pantries aren’t empty anymore. But what they talk about most—what stays with them—is how they felt.
Seen. Cared for. Loved.
And that’s not accidental.
The Store is built to be more than a place to get food. It’s a place where families can choose what works for them. Where a warm greeting at checkout might be the first kind word someone hears all day. Where dignity isn’t an extra—it’s part of every single detail. Whether it’s carrying groceries to someone’s car, offering a bouquet of fresh flowers, or inviting someone to choose a birthday card, it all matters.
All of our customers are facing food insecurity. Many are walking through some of the hardest seasons of their lives. And still, when they talk about The Store, the words they use most are: Community. Dignity. Love. (which happen to be three of our core values)
And here’s the quiet truth:That’s also why our team loves working here. Why volunteers come back, again and again. Because we all want to be treated with dignity. We all want to feel like we belong.
So yes, we will continue offering free groceries—groceries that are fresh, nourishing, and freely chosen.
But just as importantly,We will keep showing up with love.With dignity.
With Love at the Core.
Because in the end, people don’t just need food.
They need to know they matter.
When customers talk about The Store, there’s one thing they mention more than anything else—and it’s not the free food. It’s how they feel when they walk through our doors. Seen. Cared for. Loved. In this reflection from our team, discover what it really means to shop—and serve—with dignity, and why love is always at the core of what we do.
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