Little pantry, big goals: Taking action against hunger - KEPR 19

Christine Boedigheimer's happy the community is already using the Little Free Pantry she and her husband installed this week in Milton-Freewater.

MILTON-FREEWATER, Ore. -- If you’ve heard of the free little library, this idea may sound familiar: A Milton-Freewater woman built a Little Free Pantry for her community to take action against food insecurity.

“I think it's something that can bring the community together, neighborhood by neighborhood,” said Christine Boedigheimer, the local creator of the little free pantry.

Boedigheimer wanted to make a difference in her community and though it may seem small.

She said this little food pantry can change lives.

“I think if we think of it as just doing one little thing a time, and if everyone did one little thing, that would accomplish a great thing,” she said.

She originally got the idea from a post she’d seen on Facebook. The little Free Pantry project was started tis May in Arkansas by Jessica McClard. In hopes of piquing community interest in building great food security.

It’s only been a week and there’s already buzz around town. People are curious about the this food box and want to take a peek inside.

“I was looking for a box the size of where you’d put school bus kids or something, you know,” said Milton-Freewater local Larry Anderson. “And finally yesterday somebody was in there and I realized where it was.”

Larry Anderson said he was surprised to discover such a small food pantry.

“I was shocked, but then when I stopped and looked,” he said. “And boy you can get a lot of stuff in there!”

Not only is little pantry already stuffed, there is a great variety of products.

People in need can grab canned goods, produces and even toiletries

“It will make a difference for somebody that’s really hungry ,” Anderson said.

“And I think this also helps the people that want to give something and don’t know how to give or can’t give on a continual basis, but they might have extra food this month to put in the box so it kind of helps everybody get together,” Boedigheimer said.

Boedigheimer said she hopes this little idea spreads to other cities.

Because if she can do it, anyone can.

“I was hoping that I could find someone to build one because I had never built anything before,” she said with a laugh.

The box may look a little rough, and might not be pretty, she said, but the gift it gives is beautiful.

To learn more, visit The Little Free Pantry.