July 15, 2026 – Daily Devotional
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” -Matthew 25:40
On any given day, you will find Alyssa Curtis driving her car, filled with groceries. Alyssa is a mother of five. They are an active family. Alyssa loves cooking, and for quite a while, she had a social media presence focused on teaching others how to cook. Recently, Alyssa changed her social media page to focus on her new project, which is making a big difference in her community.
Alyssa grew up in a family that struggled financially. She recalls often visiting the food banks because her mom needed help feeding everyone. Many people today have a difficult time coming up with enough food to feed their family. Alyssa remembers this part of her early life and wants to use her current circumstances to help others who may be facing the same circumstances.
With some lumber and a trip to the grocery store, Alyssa built and filled up her first guilt-free pantry. This pantry is stocked with shelf-stable food, diapers, and other necessities. Alyssa started with just one pantry, purchasing it with her own resources. She began filming her time spent working in the pantry and posting it on social media. Before long, people began to ask how they could help and how they could get a pantry in their area.
Alyssa and her husband began to build more pantries. Eventually, they had to create a 501c so that they could better handle the donations and the growing effort. This project is now known as the Shame Free Collective. Alyssa hopes that no one in need will worry about the stigma of asking for help. The pantries are filled with much-needed supplies for anyone in need.
In a recent interview, Alyssa said, “What really moved my spirit was to do something that created access. Everybody should have food with dignity.” She is correct! When our neighbors are hungry, we should feed them. If we have the means, we should share so that those in need are fed.
God has blessed us with resources we can use to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Alyssa Curtis remembered the struggles her family faced when she was younger, and it has become the inspiration for her to serve. When we remember where we have come from, and what we have to share, we too can find a way to bless our neighbors.
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
