Woman who grew up on food stamps is now leaving 'shame-free' pantries out in the open

Alyssa Curtis (@shamefreecollective), mother of five and founder of Shame Free Collective, drives around different spots in Lowell, Michigan, to help those who cannot afford household items. Curtis and her husband are also responsible for setting up 20 pantries around Michigan. The whole purpose is to help parents who cannot afford to feed their families. However, the initiative stemmed from a very personal experience. She knew how pantries were set up back when she and her family depended on them, and decided to make a change, revealed TODAY on July 9, 2026.

The 'Shame-Free Collective'

Curtis shared that the idea for Shame Free Collective started in 2025. She was monetized for cooking content, but "it didn't sit right" with her because "there was so much struggle all around us." She posted a video of herself setting up her first pantry. From then on, it took on a life of its own. Several people were interested in doing the same, which was why she and her husband started building pantries. It became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May.

She told TODAY the main reason why she did it: "I grew up going to a food pantry weekly, and so I really saw firsthand the lack of dignity or quality of items that were provided to feed my family growing up." Another reason was that several people struggled to feed their kids: "A lot of times, there are single moms who are working a job or two jobs, working incredibly hard, and it’s not a lack of work ethic or having a job, struggling to keep a roof over their head."

No payment, no shame

Curtis explained how her non-profit worked: "I usually try to get to most of (the pantries) once a week to drop off a huge load. Each pantry has a host who helps keep it running. If we have extra food or hygiene items, I restock the pantries where the need is greatest or where a host has asked for a little extra support." She wanted people who needed food, baby care items, or sanitary products to grab what they needed without any payment or shame.

Curtis also revealed the kind of items that are great for people who want to donate: "Microwave-ready meals in a cup are awesome for people who live without homes or in their cars because they can just take them right to a gas station. Things like beef jerky and nuts are protein and help fill the belly. Right now, we are having a lot of demand for water, Gatorade, and feminine hygiene essentials."

Bridging the hunger gap

In 2024, the Food Research & Action Center revealed that around 13.7% of American households experienced food insecurity or did not have the means to afford an affordable and nutritious diet. They estimated that around 47.9 million Americans (14.1 million children) lived in such households. The numbers in 2024 showed an increase from the 13.8 million children in 2023. Curtis is doing her part in helping those who are going through food insecurity. She is currently building her 21st pantry and plans to build more in the future.

Unpaid but dedicated

At the moment, Curtis is the only unpaid employee who operates the pantries. She handles everything from administration, marketing, emails, and social media. She concludes, "I’ve heard of a lot of moms skipping dinner so that their kids can have food in their bellies, and that really, really devastates me. That’s what really moved my spirit to do something about creating access. Everybody should have food with dignity."

You can follow Alyssa Curtis (@shamefreecollective) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.

More on Scoop Upworthy

Two friends' fight against food waste raised $15M and 100 million lbs of surplus food for food banks

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour helps with food insecurity in states with generous donations to food banks

Community comes together on every 'Bread Monday' to help food bank provide for the needy