Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, and one local group is hoping a little blue pantry can offer just that.
The Greenville Women’s League, a service-based organization in Greenville, installed “The Free Little Pantry” last week at the Dream Park on Chestnut Street.
The pantry is filled with non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items. The idea behind the pantry is to take what you need and give what you can.
“Anybody can take food out and anybody can put food in,” women’s league member Jamie Williams said.
Williams said the idea for the pantry gained traction among the group after they saw pantries in other cities and towns and decided Greenville could use one.
The Dream Park was chosen after the group asked Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly and Greenville Recreation and Parks staff about the best place to put a pantry.
Women’s league President Amanda Willet said this is the first pantry the group has built and said she is happy that her group can give back to those in need.
“It’s just an opportunity to give back to your community and to serve others,” Willett said. “I’m very proud to be surrounded by women in our community who want to support each other but who support those we don’t know as well.
“Being able to identify community needs and figuring out how we can address those needs on our own is very encouraging and I’m proud to be a part of that,” she said.
Willett said the pantry was built using the money raised during the group’s Easter egg fundraiser held in April.
Through the years, Willett said, the women’s league has tackled several projects including building a free library at the Third Street Community Center. On Monday, the group will serve dinner to cancer patients at the Hope Lodge in Greenville.
The group of 30 women meets each month at Oakmont Baptist Church and Willett said membership is open to all women who wish to help get involved with their work. Meetings usually are on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
In October, the group’s annual fundraiser to benefit breast cancer patients will be held at Rock Springs Center
The money raised will be donated to a charity called Gardeners of Hope which helps cancer patients meet financial needs while they receive treatment, Willett said.
To learn more about Greenville Women’s League or to get involved, visit the group on Facebook or send an email to gwlbunco@gmail.com.
Contact Tyler Stocks at tstocks@reflector.com or 252-329-9566. Follow him on Twitter @Tylerstocks1987
