You’ve maybe heard of the Little Free Libraries. Now, there are Little Free Pantries, including one right here in Milton.
The Little Free Pantry pilot project began in May 2016 in Fayetteville, Ark. Soon after, pantries began springing up throughout the United States and even in other countries. According to http://ift.tt/28TUqsW, the project utilizes a familiar, compelling concept to pique local interest in and action against local food insecurity.
Hope Lutheran Church started discussing its Little Free Pantry early this summer.
The Rev. Garrett Struessel said, “It was discussed a few times at our Men’s Bible Study and soon the congregation was on board.”
Plans included fundraising for materials to build the pantry and grocery items to initially stock the pantry. In addition to donations, the congregation received two $250 Thrivent Action Team Grants.
With funds raised, construction of the pantry began in September and the pantry was mounted outside the church at 335 Dairyland Drive, with easy accessibility from the parking area. The Little Food Pantry was blessed and dedicated on Nov. 6. It’s stocked with non-perishable food and miscellaneous sundry items.
“Our goals include practicing our faith through generosity and an interest in helping families in our community who struggle with food insecurity,” Struessel said. “Churches often receive guests requesting food assistance among other needs and this was a practical way to address that. The pantry is about needs: those who need a little extra help with food and other items (such as paper goods and toiletry items), and everyone’s need to live generously and share with others and experience the joy of giving.”
Struessel describes the rules and guidelines are much like the Little Free Library: “Take what you need and leave what you can share. People are invited to contribute when the pantry’s stocks are low and take when they find themselves in need.”
The pantry is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Like many in the Milton area, Hope also contributes to the Milton food pantry coordinated by Milton Community Action. Like Carol Hulburt from the Milton food pantry likes to say, Struessel said, “There’s a lot of Hope at the food pantry.”
The Little Free Pantry is not a competing venture, he said, but an additional resource for everyone.
For the people of Hope Lutheran and people of faith in northern Rock County, Struessel said, “we believe every day is a day of Thanksgiving. We are called through Christ to live generously and give out of our abundance. Thanksgiving is a time when we are reminded of God’s generosity to us and hopefully year round we will remember to be generous in our response to the needs of others.”
