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“Rules alone can’t heal what’s broken. Relationships can.”- Johnathan Sublet, Executive Director
When we talk about solving big problems like hunger and poverty, it can be easy to think that stricter rules or fewer benefits will force people to make better choices. Some leaders in the federal government and Kansas legislature are trying to do just that. They want to make people on SNAP (food stamps) buy only healthy food. Their hope is that if you limit the choices, people will eat better and become healthier.
But true change doesn’t happen through control. It happens through care.
Think about how people grow and change. It often starts with a relationship. Just like a coach helps an athlete get stronger step by step, a caring person walking with someone through a tough time can help them move forward.
Psychologists talk about four main attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. These describe how people connect with others based on how they were cared for when they were young.
- People with secure attachment had someone they could trust growing up. They feel safe to try new things and ask for help.
- People with anxious attachment worry about being abandoned. They often need a lot of reassurance.
- People with avoidant attachment were taught to depend only on themselves. They don’t trust others to help.
- People with disorganized attachment had scary or confusing caregivers. They want connection but also fear it.
Now, imagine trying to help someone with avoidant or disorganized attachment by giving them more rules. It won’t work. They may shut down or feel punished. But if you build trust, over time, they can start to believe they’re not alone.
That’s what SENT’s holistic approach to food and nutrition security is all about. Instead of just handing out food, it builds relationships. We don’t judge. We help people take one small step at a time. We follow the “Stages of Change” model: first, you become aware, then you think about it, prepare, take action, and finally keep the change going.
This works because it respects people’s dignity. It says, “You matter. You are capable of change. And I’m here to help you do it.”
Right now, many people rely on food pantries regularly, not just during emergencies. The idea that hunger is a short-term crisis is outdated. It’s been going on for decades. Families build food from pantries into their monthly plans. Why? Because many government programs punish people for getting ahead. If you make a little more money, you can lose all your help—a situation called the “cliff effect.”
Instead of helping people build stability, we make them start over.
The idea of community food hubs, like what SENT has helped to build at the Avondale East Care Center, offers a new path. These are places where people get healthy food, learn new skills, and connect with services—all in one place. Staff are paid living wages. The hubs are open days and evenings. They offer hope, not just handouts.
And most importantly, they are built on trust and respect.
Real change doesn’t come from cutting people off or setting up more hoops to jump through. It comes from walking with them, listening to their needs, and helping them take the next right step.
Rules alone can’t heal what’s broken. Relationships can.
Let’s build a system that treats people like human beings, not problems to be solved. Hunger is a preventable problem. We can do better—not with tighter rules, but with deeper compassion.
Johnathan Sublet
Founder, Executive Director
johnathan@senttopeka.com