TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) The holidays can be hard, and sometimes you just need a helping hand, but don't feel comfortable asking for it.
Local barber Stan Sorenson has found a simple solution.
Behind his shop is a hand crafted pantry, for people to bring and donate items and others can come and take as they need freely.
The name however is a work in progress.
“Right now it's donation pantry, if somebody has a better idea for it, please let us know,” said Stan Sorenson owner of The Barber Shop at Gehrig, Dale & Co. “We're not that creative.“
Stan's original Facebook post has seen more than 1,000 likes and 400 shares.
The posts have reached across the U.S. and have gotten tremendous response.
“I have a friend in Boise that's going to build a box and now it sounds like one in Spokane and one in Virginia is going to,” said Sorenson. “You know like we were just talking to Rob, Rob’s done a ton, Sonny Warner came over and built a hood for it real quick and donated his time from Sonny’s speed shop so it is, just a community thing.”
This pantry box allows anyone who might be looking for an extra hand, or someone who just wants to give back, a private place to do so.
“That's the great thing about these, they don't have to go in anywhere, they don't have to talk to anyone, they don't have to sign anything,” said Rob Bordwell, carpenter of the box. “It's just there and it's available.”
Right now the biggest challenge is to be able to pass along this new resource to people who may not be on social media or have access to news outlets reporting on it.
“But more than anything pass on the information to people that you think might need it,” said Sorenson. “To churches, police stations, fireman, homeless. You know they're not the ones on social media so they're not the ones seeing our box, so we definitely want that for the people that need it.”
“It's not that significant, at least from my perspective to do a little bit of extra work especially if it can do something like this, where people in need can get their hands on some of the things that they do need,” said Bordwell.
Stan hopes to see these boxes pop up all throughout the Magic Valley.
“If people want one in their shop, we'll be the first ones to come help you build it,” said Sorenson.
“I absolutely would love to donate my time and my service to getting more of these up around town,” said Bordwell.
