BISMARCK, N.D. - It's been a little over a year since the Bismarck Mandan Chamber Economic Development Corporation's Leadership Committee helped bring more Little Free Pantry locations to the area. By June of 2018, the committee helped bring 17 additional Little Free Pantry sites to the region.
"There was a lot more demand than we expected and we ended up being able to get additional funding to build them," said Jessy Wetsch, committee member.
The Little Free Pantries are unique because they make donating simple. Just walk up to one of the locations listed on its Facebook page, take your nonperishable food item or toiletries, and just pop it in and you're good to go.
"Everybody has those needs. If we don't have food and the basics of life, it's really hard to move on from that. And this is something you don't have to feel ashamed to go to. Nobody really knows if you're there afterhours, whenever," said Andrea Sutheimer, committee member.
Sutheimer says the local support has helped these pantries thrive.
"We're a giving community. When we see someone in need we want to respond," she explained.
However, they've encountered hurdles along the way.
"I'm not sure if it's wind or people vandalizing them, but we've had a lot of broken plexiglasses, a lot of broken doors off the hinges," Wetsch said.
Wetsch says the maintenance is in the community's hands and they need your help to keep them going.
Before donating, make sure the food is nonperishable and not expired.
You can also leave other items like hats, gloves and toiletries.
For a list of locations, you can visit the group "Little Free Pantry - Bismarck Mandan" on Facebook.
