Food insecurity represents one of the most prevalent and severe problems facing modern United States (U.S.) society, with the proportion of households affected surging to approximately 23% during the COVID-19 pandemic. While several food safety net services exist to reduce food insecurity, previous research suggests that stigma associated with use of these resources may serve as a barrier to utilization, with powerful implications for health. Individuals living with food insecurity report "hidden costs" of using food banks and pantries, including embarrassment, shame, and lowered self-esteem, as well as negative interactions with service providers. This study employed a qualitative approach to investigating how individuals who experience difficulties meeting their food-related needs perceive and manage stigma. Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 17 women who use food banks and food pantries in the Charlotte metropolitan area of North Carolina. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed, guided by constructivist grounded theory. Participants described several factors that influenced their perceptions and experiences of poverty-related stigma within food banks and pantries, leading to a variety of reactions and responses to cope with stigma. These narratives were examined using an intrapersonal lens and integrated with prior psychological perspectives on social stigma, while a conceptual model explaining stigma processes was constructed to illustrate findings. Finally, implications, limitations, and future directions of this research are discussed.