top of page
Search

SNAP, EBT, and the Moral Call to Care for the Vulnerable: A Christ-Conscious Perspective

  • Writer: Suzan D. Walker LMT 104331
    Suzan D. Walker LMT 104331
  • 3 days ago
  • 10 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Volunteers in red aprons pack groceries at a community outreach event. Smiling woman holds canned goods. Bright, organized setting.
One of the ways you can help is volunteer at your local community food pantry. There are many ways you can help your community.

Call to Action - Opinion Piece


Recent changes to SNAP, EBT, and other assistance programs are not just political. They are deeply troubling issues that will impact the health, well-being, and security of the entire United States. How we treat children, families, and neighbors in need speaks volumes about who we are as a society. Stripping away access to basic necessities like food affects not only individuals but the collective strength and resilience of our nation.


Food insecurity is devastating for children and teenagers. Without adequate meals, young people struggle to focus in school, face developmental challenges, and are at higher risk for chronic health conditions. Our elderly population is equally at risk. Many seniors live on fixed incomes and rely on assistance programs to meet basic nutritional needs. Denying them adequate food directly impacts their health, independence, and dignity.


Healthcare insecurity compounds these challenges. When families cannot access affordable medical care, preventable illnesses go untreated, chronic conditions worsen, and mental health deteriorates. The combined effect of food and healthcare insecurity puts our nation on a dangerous slope, one that could end the lives of hundreds if not thousands of Americans if left unaddressed.


Starving and denying your own people basic necessities such as healthcare, food, and shelter is a form of spiritual warfare. It is not only a physical attack on individuals but an attack on the collective moral and spiritual health of our society. It comes from a place of selfishness, hate and corruption of the soul.


I see firsthand how people of all ages and walks of life struggle with pain, stress, and health challenges. Many are low-income individuals or have chronic conditions that make access to nutritious food and support essential. The decisions made at the policy level ripple directly into the lives of those who are most vulnerable.


I'd like to address a issue that I have been seeing alot lately: the negative Christian behavior and mindset towards our most vulnerable. Christians are instructed to read the red words in the Bible, the words of Christ that are highlighted in red. These are not suggestions. They are instructions. Christ has told his followers to feed the hungry, heal the sick, care for the vulnerable, and nurture those in need. To ignore these teachings is to turn away from what we are called to do. If you do not following his teachings you are truly not a Christian nor are living in Christ consciousness. If you feel that you are being called out, then you are.


There is a troubling narrative that children go hungry because of their parents’ failures. Rarely is this true. Most parents do everything they can to provide for their children. Struggles happen sometimes due to systemic issues beyond anyone’s control. I speak from personal experience. My family at times relied on food banks, pantries, and public assistance. There is no shame in this. To deny anyone food, shelter, or care because of pride, politics, or ideology is a betrayal of the very principles we claim to uphold. You have to ask yourself: Is this held beliefs due to systemic racism and biased belief system that has been passed down from generation to generation? Are you willing to break the cycle?


Just because you suffered at one point in your life does not mean you have to continue to perpetuate the suffering of others. We all can share resources. We all can lift one another up. Compassion is a choice, and it is a responsibility.


As a society, we are here to help, to feed, shelter, nurture, and care for one another. That is one of our major callings as human beings. Actually, that is our calling as spiritual beings in human form. Compassion and care should not be optional. They are central to humanity. Yet, I see hypocrisy when some choose to ignore suffering, rationalizing inaction or cruelty. Our government resources should serve those who are food insecure, not fund extravagances or unnecessary projects that we are seeing at this time.


Immigrants too face unjust criticism. Many are misled into believing that immigrants drain our resources. In reality, they pay taxes and are largely ineligible for programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Compassion is not limited by nationality. It is a human responsibility.


We are witnessing tactics designed to divide and conquer, to turn us against one another instead of seeing ourselves as a community. It is time to stand against oppression. It is time to stand up for the vulnerable by examining your own heart and where that truth lies.


Solutions are always possible. You just have to implement them and help spread the word of those options to others. Some suggestions that I can make are to make donations to your local food banks and ensure items are non-expired and non-perishable. Financial donations go a long way to help food pantries and charities. If you cannot do any of these you can also donate your time at a local food bank or community feeding. Help your friends, neighbors, and family members who are struggling by offering food, love and support. Beyond that, there are additional proactive ways to strengthen our communities. Support or create co-ops, such as meat and farm co-ops, that make food more accessible. Establish community gardens or “victory gardens” to grow fruits and vegetables locally. Advocate for laws and policies that allow fruiting plants and gardens to be accessible to everyone. Feeding our communities is a world-wide effort, and we need to return to the basics of cooperation, shared resources, and collective care. We have plenty of resources, just greed keeps people from being fed. I'll share some resources at the bottom of this page to start. Being mindful starts from the heart and having honest conversations with others can offer solutions and aide in assistance to others.


We need to start relying upon one another as a community to lift each other up. Clearly, our government is failing to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and is using our money on wars and unnecessary expenditures. Writing letters or contacting your congressman is not enough. Complaining is not enough. We must protest. We must hold leaders accountable. We must remove them when they refuse to do their jobs. True change requires action from all of us.


Do not come on here blaming either Democrats or Republicans. Both sides of the aisle are at fault here. Failure of communication, working together and sacrificing their constituents for the sake of greed is the epicenter of this. It is a systematic and economic breakdown of our government and social systems. We have also allowed this to occur. This is our fault as well. We cannot to continue to be passive any longer.


Some individuals are treating our government like a game. Two sides are fighting each other while the real problem sits above it all. It is not us versus them. It is those in power versus the people. They are blindsiding you, as usual. And if you believe otherwise, you are in denial.


If you are on social media, do not feed the bots. There are people posting hateful or divisive comments, many of which are generated by bots designed to stir anger and confusion. Not everyone feels this way, and it is important to remember that much of what we see online is meant to distract and divide. Do not engage. Stay focused on compassion, on truth, and on helping those in need. Transcending politics does not mean ignoring humanity.


The majority of massage therapists prefer to remain non-political, but at this time, we cannot stay silent. Massage therapy has always been about politics, community and health. These aspects have always been apart of massage therapy. As massage therapists, we have a responsibility within ourselves to help protect the most vulnerable, to help care for our communities, and to uphold the circle of care. If you are a massage therapist reading this, it is time to get political, to stand up against treason, fascism and oppression by doing something about it.


Everyone deserves to be loved, fed, sheltered, and cared for. Fellow Christians, remember your teachings and the red words of Christ. Those are instructions, not suggestions. For everyone else, just remember that morality transcends politics. Humanity itself transcends politics. We are all responsible for how we treat each other, and we all have a part to play in protecting the vulnerable and standing against oppression.


This is a call to action for all of us and as a world community.


Stand together in unity,

Suzan (Susan) Walker LMT


Categories for the Resources

Below are organizations and programs across Texas and the Greater Dallas–Fort Worth area that provide food, support, and resources to help bridge the gap for families, individuals, and the homeless.


Donation-Friendly Charities (Support via donations or volunteering)


Community Gardens & Co-Ops (Directly donate fresh produce to families)


Food Pantries & Local Assistance Programs


Food Sharing Apps & Programs in DFW

  • OLIO — A free app that connects neighbors to share surplus food and household items, helping reduce food waste.https://olioapp.com

  • Too Good To Go — Purchase surplus food from local restaurants and stores at discounted prices, preventing food waste.https://www.toogoodtogo.com

  • Sharing Excess — Rescues edible surplus from food businesses and redistributes it to local hunger relief organizations.https://www.sharingexcess.com

  • MealConnect — Connects food donors with local food banks and pantries to facilitate the donation of surplus food.https://mealconnect.org

  • Favor — Texas-based delivery service that supports locally-owned businesses and offers quick delivery from a variety of restaurants and stores.https://www.favordelivery.com

  • Pepper — Social cooking app that allows users to share recipes, discover new dishes, and connect with others over food.https://www.peppertheapp.com

  • ShareTheMeal — Crowdfunding app by the World Food Programme to donate meals to children in need worldwide.https://sharethemeal.org

  • Lasagna Love — Connects volunteer chefs with individuals and families in need, providing home-cooked lasagnas made with love.https://lasagnalove.org

  • North Texas Food Bank Mobile Pantry — Provides fresh produce and pantry staples to families in need across North Texas.https://ntfb.org/food-assistance/mobile-pantry

  • The Taste project  — Pay what you can restaurant serving the Arlington and surrounding areas. 200 North Cooper Street, Suite 150 Arlington, TX 76011

    OPEN: Wednesdays - Sundays (11:00am - 2:00pm) https://www.tasteproject.org/


Local Low-Cost Food Sharing & Donation Programs


Holiday Assistance Programs in Dallas-Fort Worth


Discount & Surplus Grocery Stores – Arlington & Surrounding Areas


Free & Low-Cost Ride Services – Arlington & Tarrant County


Community Support Platforms

Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and local community groups can be invaluable resources for individuals seeking assistance or offering help. Many communities have groups dedicated to sharing surplus food, clothing, furniture, and other necessities.


Building Forward Together

Consider starting or joining community co-ops, victory gardens, and neighborhood food exchanges. Local gardens and fruiting plants can help ensure everyone has access to nutritious food.


Copyright © 2007-2027. Connective Integration Massage Therapy by Suzan Walker, LMT. All rights reserved. DMCA Protected. Suzan (Susan) Walker TX LIC#MT104431

Comments

Follow Suzan
  • Facebook Metallic
  • Pinterest Metallic
  • Blogger Metallic
  • LinkedIn Metallic

Address

Hours

3100 W. Arkansas Ln.
Suite 108

Arlington, Texas 76016
Tel: 817-966-1020

Tuesday - Friday

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.​

Saturday

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

​

Sunday - Monday

Closed

​

By appointment

No Walk- In's

​

​

AMTA Logo
ABMP Logo

Copyright © 2007-2027. Connective Integration Massage Therapy by Suzan Walker, LMT. All rights reserved. DMCA Protected. Suzan (Susan) Walker TX LIC#MT104431

bottom of page