How would your Church respond?

[Anonymous]

To a mother calling about food for a hungry baby?

https://www.fox19.com/2025/11/12/ky-woman-goes-viral-testing-congregations-helpfulness-sparking-debate/

This has been eye opening for me, especially now as so many in our area struggle.

[Anonymous]

Weird. Did she think Churches were organizations you could just call up and have every wish granted? They aren’t sitting on stockpiles year round.

[Anonymous]

Monroe said several places of worship that said ‘no’ have reached out to her to talk about how eye-opening this has been and the gaps they’ve identified that they’re now working to fill.

This is heartening.

As PP said, churches generally don't just have stockpiles of formula to hand out. They have resources, lists... there were administrative issues. Maybe she called and left a message on a number that is rarely checked, which they are now forwarding elsewhere. Maybe they gave her the list of charities they work with, but it's outdated and no one has looked at it in a while. Maybe they referred her to a website, but the links are broken. It doesn't sound like any were callous to her.

[Anonymous]

Our church has responded to this because we operate a food pantry. This is an aggressive, dumb act to try to make something Tik Tok-viral. Nevertheless, we emphasized that if you take this call, just stress that you are going to put her in touch with partner resources that can provide formula.

[Anonymous]

The article is also misleading and way over playing this. This has NOT “sparked a nationwide debate.”

It’s one dumb b1tch looking for TikTok followers by stirring trouble. She doesn’t even have a baby.

[Anonymous]

The great-grandfather pastor in Kentucky is truly the hero of this story for me. His answer is most closely aligned to how I imagine Jesus would want people to act in His name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The article is also misleading and way over playing this. This has NOT “sparked a nationwide debate.”

It’s one dumb b1tch looking for TikTok followers by stirring trouble. She doesn’t even have a baby.

Is this how your Church talks about women in general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Monroe said several places of worship that said ‘no’ have reached out to her to talk about how eye-opening this has been and the gaps they’ve identified that they’re now working to fill.

This is heartening.

As PP said, churches generally don't just have stockpiles of formula to hand out. They have resources, lists... there were administrative issues. Maybe she called and left a message on a number that is rarely checked, which they are now forwarding elsewhere. Maybe they gave her the list of charities they work with, but it's outdated and no one has looked at it in a while. Maybe they referred her to a website, but the links are broken. It doesn't sound like any were callous to her.

I was really horrified when I heard the allegations that churches were saying no. But then I watched this video of her being rejected:

https://www.tiktok.com/@ai.magico/video/7570569548437458198?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

and in one of the three cases, the person is clearly still talking and thinking of solutions when she interrupts them and says "I don't really have a baby", and in another case he's still talking and thinking when the video ends. Neither of them said no.

I am pretty sure if you called my church, especially if you got the priest, he'd look for a solution, but it wouldn't surprise me if he sounded like the people in the video who are being labeled as rejecting.

So, you'd call him and he'd say "Well we have a food pantry, but it isn't available till Sunday (so not an option) . . . the one at St. Joseph's is open today (texting his secretary "Hey can you call St. Joseph's and see if they have infant formula?") but I don't know if they have any in stock. I can't go buy some right no, because I am at the hospital (Texting a parishioner he knows is available during the day to see if they could run to the store) . . .

and then he's interrupted with "Oh, this isn't real" when he's actively looking for solutions.

I know they look for solutions because I've gotten those texts and calls from him, not specifically formula, but other urgent needs for people who aren't in our parish, or are brand new to the parish. But I could totally see our priest fumbling a phone call.

I also believe that there are churches who would just say no. The second call, was more what I expected when I heard "no one helped", but in the other calls, it isn't clear to me.

Ideally they would say "We will help you solve this problem. But right now I'm across town at a hospital so I need a moment to reach out and find a solution. Can I have your number?"

[Anonymous]

I’m Catholic and they would absolutely not help.

If the called Catholic Charities (not a church for those who don’t know) they would have helped.

I do not think every church should have the funds or have the food but they should 150% be educated on the resources in their area.

The fact that they couldn’t even help with a local resource is insane.

I think it’s awesome she did this do people can reevaluate what it means to be a tax free church,

It makes me sick to see the council of bishops back pedal on their support for Trump and his inhumane treatment of people. It’s too little too late, you knew what you were doing… repent,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Monroe said several places of worship that said ‘no’ have reached out to her to talk about how eye-opening this has been and the gaps they’ve identified that they’re now working to fill.

This is heartening.

As PP said, churches generally don't just have stockpiles of formula to hand out. They have resources, lists... there were administrative issues. Maybe she called and left a message on a number that is rarely checked, which they are now forwarding elsewhere. Maybe they gave her the list of charities they work with, but it's outdated and no one has looked at it in a while. Maybe they referred her to a website, but the links are broken. It doesn't sound like any were callous to her.

I was really horrified when I heard the allegations that churches were saying no. But then I watched this video of her being rejected:

https://www.tiktok.com/@ai.magico/video/7570569548437458198?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

and in one of the three cases, the person is clearly still talking and thinking of solutions when she interrupts them and says "I don't really have a baby", and in another case he's still talking and thinking when the video ends. Neither of them said no.

I am pretty sure if you called my church, especially if you got the priest, he'd look for a solution, but it wouldn't surprise me if he sounded like the people in the video who are being labeled as rejecting.

So, you'd call him and he'd say "Well we have a food pantry, but it isn't available till Sunday (so not an option) . . . the one at St. Joseph's is open today (texting his secretary "Hey can you call St. Joseph's and see if they have infant formula?") but I don't know if they have any in stock. I can't go buy some right no, because I am at the hospital (Texting a parishioner he knows is available during the day to see if they could run to the store) . . .

and then he's interrupted with "Oh, this isn't real" when he's actively looking for solutions.

I know they look for solutions because I've gotten those texts and calls from him, not specifically formula, but other urgent needs for people who aren't in our parish, or are brand new to the parish. But I could totally see our priest fumbling a phone call.

I also believe that there are churches who would just say no. The second call, was more what I expected when I heard "no one helped", but in the other calls, it isn't clear to me.

Ideally they would say "We will help you solve this problem. But right now I'm across town at a hospital so I need a moment to reach out and find a solution. Can I have your number?"

One of the first articles I read about this was "she called the church, and all they did was take her information!" And I'm like... what do you expect them to do? It's a perfectly good response and 99% of the churches will call her back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The great-grandfather pastor in Kentucky is truly the hero of this story for me. His answer is most closely aligned to how I imagine Jesus would want people to act in His name.

Sure, but if this were known, then he’d be getting calls 10 times a day for free formula. So you do eventually need to establish protocols for supplies, eligibility, funding, distribution, etc.

Which is exactly what most of these churches have done, with USDA-affiliated pantries that are staffed certain hours by volunteers.

You cannot realistically expect the first person to take a phone call request to immediately jump and run to target to spend money out-of-pocket

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m Catholic and they would absolutely not help.

If the called Catholic Charities (not a church for those who don’t know) they would have helped.

I do not think every church should have the funds or have the food but they should 150% be educated on the resources in their area.

The fact that they couldn’t even help with a local resource is insane.

I think it’s awesome she did this do people can reevaluate what it means to be a tax free church,

It makes me sick to see the council of bishops back pedal on their support for Trump and his inhumane treatment of people. It’s too little too late, you knew what you were doing… repent,

Asserts facts not in evidence. Most were trying to help with referrals, and she cut them off and complained that they were turning her away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The great-grandfather pastor in Kentucky is truly the hero of this story for me. His answer is most closely aligned to how I imagine Jesus would want people to act in His name.

Sure, but if this were known, then he’d be getting calls 10 times a day for free formula. So you do eventually need to establish protocols for supplies, eligibility, funding, distribution, etc.

Which is exactly what most of these churches have done, with USDA-affiliated pantries that are staffed certain hours by volunteers.

You cannot realistically expect the first person to take a phone call request to immediately jump and run to target to spend money out-of-pocket

It is known…and people around the country have sent him more than $100,000 because I guess they want people calling for help to receive it?

I don’t think the first person taking the call has to be the one going to Target, but if I donated money to an institution that claimed to feed the hungry I’d expect whoever answered the phone to be able to tell a parent, yes, we will help you feed your infant.

[Anonymous]

The Methodist church my kid attended preschool at did a food bank distribution every Friday, so they'd definitely help.

[Anonymous]

This girl is a hound dog for fame. She’s the very reason why institutions, including churches, should be worried about giving out handouts. People are scammers. She’s calling up churches falsely stating that some non-existent baby needs food. Give outs need scrutiny, too, otherwise, you are utilizing people’s hard earned money to support these liars. She’s more interested in getting her ‘views’ up than doing good for the world. Shame on her.