On National Day of Charity, we’re celebrating something bigger than charity: parity.

Charity meets an immediate need. Parity looks beyond that moment and works toward a future where our neighbors have the resources, opportunities and support they need to build stability for themselves and their families. Pam Wilkerson’s story shows us what that can look like. Eighteen years ago, Pam came to MUST Ministries when she and her three-month-old daughter were experiencing homelessness. MUST provided shelter and connected Pam with resources to help her begin rebuilding her life. On this day, we met Pam again completely by chance. Our team was at South Atlanta High School celebrating the opening of a new MUST Ministries school pantry when we learned that Pam now works there as a school clerk. For Pam, seeing MUST at her school brought everything full circle. “I know you guys are going to help people because you helped me. So if I can be helped, anyone can be helped.” That’s why our work doesn’t stop at meeting an immediate need. From emergency shelter and food assistance to workforce development, housing support and school pantries, MUST Ministries works alongside our neighbors as they move from crisis toward stability. Charity can be the beginning. Parity is the bigger goal. Sometimes you don’t get to see where a helping hand leads 18 years later. This time, we did.