Little Free Pantries are popping up all around the world, helping neighbours in need

The Little Free Pantry is a crowdsourced project applying the Little Free Library concept to address hyperlocal food insecurity.

Neighbours Helping Neighbours: like Little Free Libraries, but with food!

The Little Free Pantry is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to immediate and local need. Whether a need for food or a need to give, the Little Free Pantry facilitates neighbours helping neighbours, building community. Scroll down for a gallery of 30 Little Free Pantries of all shapes and sizes. We hope they give you some inspiration for your own neighbourhood Little Free Pantry. More details on how to set one up below.

The Little Free Pantry encourages community and love for thy neighbour

The Little Free Pantry utilises a now-familiar, compelling concept to raise local interest in — and action against — local food insecurity. The Little Free Pantry offers a place around which neighbours might gravitate to meet neighbourhood needs, whether for food or for fun.

Motivated individuals or groups provide small, watertight structures at a site of their choosing and coordinate stocking however they see fit. Some utilise publicity and open-sourcing, while others solicit support, either from individuals or organisations, and schedule the stocking of the pantry. 

Being open at nights and during weekends, with no questions asked, The Little Free Pantry fills gaps in service provided by organisations with operating hours who may require paperwork or documentation. It also encourages community and love for thy neighbour. Maybe the Little Free Pantry doesn’t come with performance metrics or guarantees, but is a huge leap of faith in people. 

The first Little Free Pantry was conceptualised and piloted by Jessica McClard of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Both an avid reader and keen runner, she browsed Little Free Libraries popping up along her run route and became intrigued by the concept and the fact it had become viral. 

Conceptually, Jessica believes “Little Free” structures speak to people because they create space for community, enhancing quality of life for neighbours, while also facilitating manageable, direct action toward intractable issues, such as literacy and food insecurity.

Individuals and groups may provide direct support to The Little Free Pantry project in two ways. Purchase items when grocery shopping, find a location, and place items inside. Or start your own Little Free Pantry! Lots of Little Free Pantries might be BIG. All are invited to like and share The Little Free Pantry Facebook page, to promote the concept, action, and service. For more information, check out The Little Free Pantry website.

Source: LittleFreePantry