Sky-high heating bills, escalating mortgage payments, unexpected medical costs, expensive car repairs. Any of these challenges can put you in the deep end financially.

In order to feed yourself and your family, you find you must take advantage of your local food pantry. This necessity makes you feel not only financially challenged but emotionally down. If your children are aware of the fix you are in, this only doubles your dismay.

You show up at the food pantry, only to find that the shelves are slimly stocked. Now, an effort that might have challenged your pride also instills worry. How will you and your family survive on less than adequate food? Equally important, how will you survive emotionally? How will you go forward with your self-worth intact, not only in your own eyes, but in the eyes of your children?

How can you turn this difficulty into an opportunity?

When life’s challenges seem most impossible, that’s the time to seek a broad perspective. First of all, if you are doing your best, try to recognize that your best is good enough. Sometimes using a charitable resource is the smart thing to do. While it may be uncomfortable, it is not shameful to turn to others to help you through a tough time. Recognize that this could happen to any of us.

Next, take a look at a need that is beyond your own. As Gene Dinsmore of the Camden Area Christian Food Pantry said: “It’s difficult this time of year to keep the shelves filled.

They just don’t have so many food drives going, and more people are losing their jobs. We need every bit of help we can get, not just in donations but in volunteers to help us.”

Even when you see that you’re not the only one in need, you may think it’s laughable for someone in your position to help others. The fact is, though, that you can be a benefactor, even in hard times.

You may not have a can of beans to spare, but you can donate your time and energy to stock the food pantry. Consider running a food drive yourself, at your workplace, your place of worship, or with members of any other group to which you belong. Or volunteer at the food pantry itself. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but you will put food on the tables of others who need it.

There’s another plus here, too. Instead of seeing you as a victim of circumstance, your children and other family members will see you as a hero.