For many Americans, food pantries offer a vital lifeline. But for those who rely on them, the need for nourishment can come with something else— stigma.

New research from the Food Stigma Research Lab highlights how anticipated stigma—the fear of being judged—emerges as the most common barrier faced by people accessing food assistance. This internal anxiety often manifests as embarrassment or nervousness, especially during initial visits.

“I think the very first time I went, I felt a little embarrassed at first,” shared a 65-year-old pantry client from Pennsylvania. “But I’m okay with it now. It doesn’t hurt me, it doesn’t make me feel any different. If you need stuff, you need stuff.”

For others, that sense of shame lingers, prompting efforts to stay anonymous. One woman described her approach: “If you don’t want nobody to see you, don’t park right in front of the place. Just park up the street a little bit… pull your hair back, put on a baseball cap, put on a mask, and go get yourself right.”

These stories reveal the quiet burdens many carry in their search for basic needs—burdens shaped not just by hunger, but by how society views those who ask for help. Addressing food insecurity means more than providing groceries. It means creating environments that affirm dignity, reduce shame, and remind people that needing support should never feel like a secret.