A Louisiana mother spent $1,800 on groceries to fill a community fridge for the needy, only for people to empty it out in under an hour.
Brashawnee Johnson, a nonprofit owner, spent a whopping $1,743.83 on peanut butter, jelly, frozen pizzas, canned food, diapers, wipes, and more to help out those struggling in her community in Opelousas.
But before she could even leave the grounds, the stock-full fridges were emptied by three or four people, she told KATC.
'When I opened the fridge and saw it completely empty, I just started crying again. I could not believe three to four people took all of this,' she said.
In a video posted around 8pm Wednesday, Johnson showed off her haul, but warned people to only take what they need.
'The only thing I ask is that you come only if you need [to] and you don't be doggish and big-eyed. Please, because you guys aren't the only ones in need.'
But within 30 to 40 minutes, the shelves only had a few cans of chicken noodle soup, peas, and oats among a few other items.
The heartbroken mother then had to watch as others in need arrived to empty shelves, and were forced to go home empty-handed, leaving her in tears.
Brashawnee Johnson, a nonprofit owner, spent $1,743.83 on peanut butter, jelly, frozen pizzas, canned food, diapers, wipes, and more to fill a community pantry in Opelousas, Louisiana
The shelves were barely stocked when she arrived with her haul, so she filled the shelves, which were emptied out in less than 30 minutes later
'I don’t want to say they were being doggish or big-eyed…because I don’t know their household! But I will say, I’m HURT. I didn’t plan for it to happen like it,' she wrote on Facebook.
Johnson understood where the people were coming from, having grown up in a low-income household with five siblings. They often experienced going to bed hungry and having no electricity, she wrote.
She added that she is trying to lead with compassion, and remind herself that she doesn't know their circumstances. Johnson said she will be donating again.
Beth Jones, the co-chair of the community giving fridge and pantry, said some food-insecure people take more than what they need because they're unsure when their next meal will be, she told KATC.
Jones said it's not an uncommon occurrence at community fridges, where people can just walk up and take what they want.
'People are hungry, so the food doesn't last long,' Jones told the outlet. 'They say the same thing in Lafayette – food doesn't last more than an hour or two.'
The organization is working with local police to start patrolling the area more frequently, and the fridges do have cameras to 'see if it is being abused,' Jones said.
An estimated 827,690 people live with food insecurity in the Pelican State, according to Feeding Louisiana.
Johnson was shocked to see the groceries disappear so quickly and was heartbroken to witness others in need arrive to empty shelves
Johnson said the shelves were emptied by only a few people, despite urging everyone to take only what they need
Of those people, it is estimated that 248,630 are children, or roughly one in five kids.
St Laundry's Parish, which contains Opelousas, has an 18.7 percent food insecurity rate, according to Feeding Louisiana.
An estimated 15,000 residents in the parish are struggling to afford food, with Lafayette - its neighboring parish - having a similar 16.1 percent food insecurity rate.
The US Department of Agriculture found that 5.4 percent of households had a very low rate of food security, while 8.3 percent had a low risk, it found.
This equates to roughly 18.3 million households, or around 48 million people who are unable to afford food regularly, according to USDA.
The South experiences the highest rates of food insecurity.