Jessica McClard in Fayetteville, AR, decided to open the Little Free Pantry in her neighborhood, which supplies food and hygiene items to those in need. She said:
“I check on it about once every day because it’s at the church,” McClard told ABC News of the small structure located in front of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville. “I know it turns over in about 30 minutes. That suggests to me that are more people on the demand side than the supply side.”
The hygiene items are the most popular:
“Personal hygiene items for sure,” she explained. “Deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper goods are great too, paper towels and toilet paper. I get asked about high temperatures and whether food could really spoil, but the turnover rate is so high it’s never been a problem.”
McClard also noticed that people have started leaving school supplies in it, too. She’s picked up handmade thank you notes from those who have taken some items.
She set up a webpage and Facebook page for the Little Free Pantry. It allows people to get in touch to donate items and how they can help. It also gives people directions to it.
The idea, even though only a few months old, have inspired others to do the same thing.
She hopes more follow in her footsteps:
“I think the question that it raises is the really interesting thing about this project,” she said. “It forces you to confront the question, ‘What is needed in your life? What is my need?’ It’s been clear to me that for me, the need to give and to do something is significant. I’m hearing that from other people too. There are people who want to help and do something and they just don’t know what to do.”
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