Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Guest Opinion | Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater: Our Doors Are Open

As we enter a second month of the government shutdown, an image keeps coming to me: open and closed doors. The doors of the government are currently closed, with neither side able to figure out how to end the stalemate that doesn’t involve just blaming the other side. But, with those doors closed, the doors of Friends In Deed have remained open. Through COVID, the Eaton fire and now the shutdown, our doors, and our hearts, remain wide open to those most vulnerable in our community.

Last week, we served 848 households, shattering any previous record of people coming through our doors. And while that in and of itself is mind-boggling, another number also got our attention: 65 first time people. These folks expressed fear about the cancellation of their SNAP benefits, so they were coming to ‘stock-up.’ We can only imagine that those numbers will increase now that the benefits are fully cut. And even with the announcement that the administration will release some contingency funds, those will only cover benefits for 50% of people that usually receive them.

Our doors will remain open, and our hands will remain open. Scripture teaches us that while “there will never cease to be poor people in the land,” we should “open our hands wide to those most in need; we should never close our hearts to the most vulnerable.” Our mission is all about compassion and dignity: for those that we serve, for those that volunteer, for those on staff and for our community. Closing our doors isn’t an option for us.

In a recent clip about the Food Pantry, our amazing director, Tim Nistler, said something that touched me, and is how I hope we can all see the people coming for food. “The people that come to the pantry, they are you and me, all of us. They have jobs, maybe they don’t have jobs, maybe they just lost their jobs, or are retired. They just need some help. Rather than seeing them as ‘poor people,’ see them as our neighbor. And if a neighbor needed a cup of sugar, we would share it. People just need some help, and that is why we are here.”

While walking around the city over the weekend, I couldn’t help but notice all of the neon EBT signs, usually a reminder for people that their benefits will be accepted. Sadly, these signs will now be a flashing reminder of what is not attainable as long as the government’s doors are closed, and people’s cards are empty. As long as we are able, our doors will be open, our hands will be open and our hearts will be open.

If you want to help out our neighbors, visit www.friendsindeedpas.org

Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater is the CEO of Friends In Deed