I work full time + take extra jobs for past 36 years, 32 in a professional field, but at low pay for reasons of faith. Due to medical debt, I am for the first time ever, forced to take groceries from a no questions asked Protestant food pantry. It was that or risk my still tenuous health by not eating, forgoing necessary medication, or not paying the rent. IMO, those employers who claim to be Christian as is mine, should pay their employees a living wage whether the government legislates it or not. I inquired about SNAP only to be told I do not qualify. To receive government assistance, I have to have a dependent child or be unemployed for six months. I am single and must support myself. Did I do the right thing or not? I see government assistance as to be avoided at nearly all costs. Once on welfare, few ever get off it.
Reasons of faith does not intrinsically mean lower pay. Maybe try a different field within your profession?
Regarding SNAP, I find that curious because a family I know (who always manages to turn any molehill obstacle into a mountain) complains about how you can only get welfare if you're employed. However, it's true that the qualifying income level does go up the more dependents you have.
Government assistance is not to be avoided "at all costs". If you qualify for it, go ahead and use it without scruple. You have to look at things holistically. The government has to provide SNAP to so many people otherwise the system would utterly collapse. It's part of the messed-up, modern game.
But it's a game we're all forced to play, unfortunately. We can't just fly to the Moon and start a distributist, Catholic colony with Real Money (non-fiat currency like gold and silver).