Check it Out – 2 Arkansas Towns Set Up ‘Little Free Pantries’ for the Public

Something called the Little Free Pantry allows anyone to leave food or other supplies for people in need. Those in need can come by and pick up any item they wish. Anyone can donate and anyone can take an item, creating a giving community and helping bring neighbors together. It hopes to address food insecurities and food deserts that many people in the towns face.

The genius Little Free Pantry is the brainchild of 41-year-old Jessica McClard. She noticed that Fayetteville had lots of Little Free Libraries popping up that allowed users to take and donate books without paying a penny. Motivated by the idea that books nourish the soul, McClard sought to use a similar idea to literally nourish people in her town.

McClard told Huffington Post:

“My feeling is little free structures both create space for neighborliness and address social problems.”

McClard kicked off the project with a $250 micro-grant from Thrivent Financial. This was used to build the structure that would house the free items. On May 10, she “opened for business” in front of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

She’s noticed that people are often quick to grab feminine hygiene products, peanut butter and jelly, and diapers. And while these products are always in demand, McClard has also done a theme day in the Little Free Pantry’s short tenure, stocking the pantry with treats for kids on the last day of school including candy necklaces and jump ropes.

Inspired by the idea, volunteers at West Poinsett Memorial Library in Weiner, Arkansas decided to build their own outside of the building. McClard told her Facebook fans that she was delighted by the installation, partly because she grew up in Weiner. She stated the site was more special to her than her own on the Little Free Pantry Facebook page. [1]

The Little Free Pantry in Fayetteville, Arkansas has proved to be such a success in its hometown that it has spread to northwest, Arkansas in a town called Weiner.

The Facebook page for the Little Free Pantry has already garnered over 10,000 likes.

Sources:

[1] WMC Action News