Praise Assembly of God Church and Church Health Services are partnering to help those in need.
The next-door neighbors have erected a Little Free Pantry located between their two buildings in the 100 block of West Maple Avenue.
The Little Free Pantry movement was started by Jessica McClard in 2016. She was seeing Little Free Libraries pop up in her Arkansas neighborhood encouraging community members to share books. It gave her an idea to create a similar system to help feed others.
Bev Beal-Loeck, director of community outreach at CHS, said she read a newspaper article about a Little Free Pantry in Madison and thought it could serve a need in Beaver Dam, too.
“A lot of our patients at Church Health Services are working minimum-wage jobs, and sometimes they’re working two jobs,” Beal-Loeck said. “When you’re at the end of the line before the next paycheck shows up or you’re on Social Security with a limited income, you may just need a little something to get through the weekend.”
She said she connected with the Rev. Randy Carey and Val Carey at Praise Assembly and it turned out they were sprouting the same idea.
“It was great because we were both thinking about this and decided to work together,” Val Carey said. “Our two organizations can keep an eye on it, but it is meant to be self-sustaining.”
A Little Free Pantry is for neighbors helping neighbors. Community members are to take what they may need, but also give what they are able.
Carey said the pantry was an old cabinet found at Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Beaver Dam that a couple church members took home and refurbished. Signage will be added to the pantry shortly.
The Little Free Pantry is small, so it cannot stock the quantity and variety that a traditional brick-and-mortar pantry can.
“It’s meant to fill a gap for those who can’t easily meet everyday food and personal needs. It will provide a boost when needed and will be available 24/7,” Beal-Loeck said.
Praise Assembly and CHS will evaluate the donations while also making sure any additions to the stock are appropriate and not outdated.
“Because we are entering the winter season, we don’t want items in the pantry now that could freeze,” Beal-Loeck said. “We are encouraging boxed food and personal care products.”
Carey said fliers with information about where to locate traditional food pantries in the area will be placed inside.
“This is a good location because it’s right downtown,” she said. “But it would be wonderful if the Little Free Pantry catches on and other neighborhoods put one up.”
