In this screen shot of an educational video released by Our Community Food Pantry, volunteers Deb Herath (left) and Kirk Sanders help a pantry client. They are two of many volunteers featured in the video which reaffirms the pantry’s mission.
Reminder Publishing file photo
SPRINGFIELD — Hunger is a growing problem across Massachusetts.
A study by the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham in summer 2025 found that more than half, 54%, of people in Hampden County, are food insecure.
While many programs are working to solve the issue of access to food, Nia Rennix said she is working to solve the issue of dignity in food access.
Rennix, with degrees in business and nutrition, has helped establish or adapt emergency food distribution programs at various schools, hospitals and nonprofits. In her work, Rennix makes dignity the bedrock on which food pantry programs are built, creating programs that provide nutritional assistance without contributing to the stigma related to asking for help.
Historically, she said, food pantries are “so focused on efficiency, pushing food out the door.” Instead of viewing the pantry system from the perspective of those operating it, Rennix said she starts from the perspective of pantry users. “It’s how families and people are navigating through the food pantry, how they’re feeling. I’ve talked to thousands of families, when you’re in there, they’re grateful,” she said, but added, “a lot of institutions know that something is missing.”
The focus on dignity includes ensuring that there are culturally acceptable options for all users. This includes considerations of familiar ingredients and preparation methods for various cultures, as well as religious restrictions. Eliminating long lines for food access and making sure the registration process does not “feel like an interrogation” are also necessary, Rennix said.
“All this is important as people navigate through these spaces to make sure that trust is not eroded,” she said, explaining, “People and families that face food insecurity are already going through a certain level of trauma. Trust is a foundation.” She said people will carry that trust with them when reaching out to other resources and systems.
Considering current practices around emergency food distribution, Rennix said, “We’ve come a long way.” Historically, pantry workers would hand users a pre-packed box of food staples, which may include ingredients people have never cooked with or foods they cannot eat due to allergies or religious restrictions. Rennix said the client choice model of emergency food distribution began to spread in the 1990s, giving the users autonomy in what foods they choose.
Now, it is time to move beyond food access to eradicating the stigma of food assistance.
“People think ‘homeless’ when they think of who uses pantries, but it’s your neighbor, your boss, your friend. People who are working but need a little more help don’t want to go to these pantries because they’re worried what people will think,” Rennix said, but “People don’t realize how close they can be to accessing pantries. I’ve seen so many people come in and talked to them and kind of been a part of their struggle.” She shared a story of one woman whose husband had died. Without his income, she needed help with groceries. “She never thought she would need a pantry,” Rennix said.
Providing dignity for people accessing emergency food is about “allowing them to move through the pantry in a way that is trauma-free, in a way that its stigma-free.”
To help address this issue, Rennix founded HungerDash, a virtual food pantry club. Like food delivery services, such as InstaCart, users pay a $25 monthly fee to have a curated shipment of items delivered to their doors each Friday, eliminating the stigma that many feel about visiting a food pantry. The online platform also offers opportunities for people to help support the program.
For more information about HungerDash, visit hungerdash.com. Rennix can be reached by email at hello@niarennix.com.
