Feed the Hungry: Our Call to Love our Neighbor, Opinion by the Rev. Christine Stoxen

The following article by Rev. Christine Stoxen appeared in The San Tan Sun News (Chandler) on August 23, 2026. Rev. Stoxen serves of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chandler. AZ.

It is becoming ever more apparent in our communities that the reduction in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits is taking its toll on our neighbors. Children miss lunches. Senior Citizens choose between food and medication. Hardworking parents water down milk to stretch it out.

In the Gospel of Mark, we find a story that talks about this being our responsibility. The disciples faced with a hungry crowd of five thousand looked at their limited resources – five loaves and two fish – and urged Jesus to send the people away to find food for themselves. They were overwhelmed by the scale of the need. But Jesus, looked at them sand said, “You give them something to eat’ (Mark 6:37). This instruction remains today. We are not called to turn away from the hunger in our neighborhoods, nor are we called to wait for a miracle to solve problems that we, as a community, have the power to address. Today, many families in our communities are facing a difficult reality as SNAP benefits have been reduced, leaving families to bridge the gap between their paychecks and the dinner table.

In the story of the feeding of the five thousand, the miracle is not that the food appeared out of thin air; the miracle was in the distribution. The disciples were the ones who organized the crowd, who walked a among them, and who handed out the loves and the fishes. They were the bridge between the divine compassion and human hunger. Today, we are those disciples. We are called to do the same. While systematic change and policy advocacy are important parts of the solution, we must also address the immediate hunger needs.

As communities and individuals, we can make a difference. We do not have to be paralyzed by the vastness of the problem. Like the disciples, we start with what we have. We can support local food pantries through financial gifts, shelf-stable foods or volunteering your time. Beyond direct service, we are called to be a voice for the voiceless. Contact your local and state representatives. Remind them that hunger is a moral issue. Ask them to prioritize funding for food assistance programs and to consider the human cost of these cuts.

Today, bring your loaves. Bring your fish. Bring your hands, your time, and your voice. Our neighbors are hungry, and we have been given the opportunity and resources to ensure our neighbors are fed.

Pastor Chris Stoxen serves Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 739 W. Erie St., Chandler. She received the 2025 Bedenbaugh Award from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary for faithful leadership, ministry and service. 

View Pastor Chris’s testimony on HB2191 before the House Appropriations Committee in February.

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