Christian pastor shows empty food bank shelves after rejecting donations from LGBTQ+ allies
God’s Store House Food Bank turned down donations from LGBTQ+ allies. (Image: Envato)
A West Virginia food bank that once served thousands of families each month is facing empty shelves after its pastor rejected support from organisations he says are connected to the LGBTQ+ community.
Pastor Alvin Christian, who runs God’s Store House Food Bank in Bluefield, West Virginia, said in a since-deleted Facebook Live video that he refused to accept supplies after discovering that some organisations connected to food assistance donations “support” LGBTQ+ people, as per Friendly Atheist, who first reported the story on 30 July.
“Are y’all tied in or partners with LGBQ, T, whatever? And they said ‘yes.’ I done some more research and found out that they are part of the gay rights movement,” Christian said in the Facebook Live.
“To stand with faith in God, I refuse to receive food from anybody that is tied into that,” Christian continued, referring to LGBTQ+ inclusion. He added that he would not be “part of a gay rights movement” because of partnerships involving Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.
Christian then posted another video, which was archived by a Facebook user, thatshowcased empty shelves, empty freezers and an empty warehouse.
“As you can see, our cupboards are empty, our freezers are empty. We have nothing in the warehouse as far as food-wise as of this moment,” he said.
God’s Store House Food Bank
Before the disruption, God’s Store House Food Bank had become a major resource for the local community, reportedly serving more than 800 families daily and around 8,000 unique families every month across four counties in West Virginia and Virginia.
Christian later said the food bank was not rejecting donations outright, but claimed he did not want to purchase from organisations where money could indirectly support LGBTQ+ groups. However, Feeding America is a nonprofit network of 200 food banks that distributes donated food and does not sell supplies to food banks.
The pastor also said he would continue to provide food to anyone in need, claiming, “I will not discriminate against anybody.” But critics have pointed out the contradiction between welcoming LGBTQ+ people seeking assistance while rejecting organisations because they support LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Christian has said he is searching for another food supplier and asked supporters to pray that “God will open another door.”
The decision is particularly significant given that LGBTQ+ people experience disproportionately high rates of food insecurity. According to information from Feeding America’s Chief Equity Officer Ami McReynolds from a 2022 podcast appearance, 22% of LGBTQ+ adults live in poverty, making them twice as likely as others to experience hunger.
A report from the USDA in 2022 has also found transgender people were “almost 2.5 times more likely than cisgender people to face food insufficiency during the pandemic.”
A 2020 study from the Williams Institute noted that LGBTQ+ people can be hesitant to access faith-based aid programmes because of fears of discrimination or judgment. Actions like Christian’s, critics argue, risk reinforcing those concerns and making vulnerable people less likely to seek help.
