MUNCIE, Ind. — With the cutting of food stamps, this Muncie local has taken it into her own hands to help do her part and feed the community.
Muncie resident Payton Choate has a lot on her plate, literally. However, she is still putting in the time to help out her own community. While it is a big task, she is following her heart and her faith to get food onto the tables of the community and show what ‘love thy neighbor’ really means to her.
“Working full time, being a full-time graduate student, making meals, tending to the house, it's very busy, but it's very rewarding, and like I said earlier, I couldn't do it without Jesus," explained Choate.
However, helping out the people of Muncie who are in need touches close to home for Choate, as she is currently living on one income. With the recent cut of food stamps, she knows the severity and how many people are being affected.
Choate hasn’t been providing meals for very long, but she feels as though something is calling her to do so. While helping in this troubling time, she thinks Jesus is a big part of what led her to do it, because she has been in a similar situation before.
“I completely understand financial struggles, and I understand going without food, I understand being hungry, I get it,” stated Choate, "It's not easy, and I have the access to the means to help so I want to help.”
While Choate has experienced it herself, she strives to make that difference for others. She makes about three to five extra meals a night, and hopes to do more in the future. By helping out, she is hoping to create a snowball effect that gets the whole community involved in being there for one another.
“The main thing is to just help out if you can it is a hard time for everyone; if everyone could just band together, we could make a huge impact, so just do what you can,” said Choate.
If you are in need of assistance, there are food pantries, soup kitchens, and many local members of the community who are looking to help.
Contact Noah Lyda with comments at noah.lyda@bsu.edu.
