'Little Food Pantry' Is Curbing Hunger In Local Communities

The beginning of significant movements only requires a jump of faith. You never know how your smallest ideas could make an important impact. Taking that one leap, Jessica McClard came up with a genius idea to create the “Little Food Pantry” and it is changing many lives.

Jessica noticed the Little Free Libraries when she jogged around her neighborhood. Little Free Libraries are wooden boxes on a post, cemented into the ground. Whenever someone stops at one of the boxes, they take a book or leave a book for others to enjoy.

What a great way to connect with the community around you!

Little Free Pantry Is Curbing Hunger In Local Communities _ everything inspirational — Credit: Upworthy

This idea inspired Jessica to come up with a plan that would confront the problem of food insecurity in her community. Modeling after the “Little Free Library”, Jessica developed the “Little Free Pantry”.

The “Little Free Pantry” also involves a wooden box for people to leave food items in. Anyone who is in need of food can take what they need from the pantry. No one knows who leaves food and who comes to get food. It is all anonymous which is great for people who may feel embarrassed about someone seeing them accept donated food.

“I really owe so much to the Little Free Library concept. I duplicated that library box, but I put food in it!”

Jessica shared a post about the pantry on social media and it immediately began to inspire others. As soon as she put up the first box in her church’s parking lot, the pantry was full after only being up for no longer than 30 minutes. Everyone was so eager to take part in the initiative to give to those in need.

“It’s a reaffirmation of the fact that people do care about each other” she says to UpWorthy.

People even added other goods like light bulbs, diapers, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and school supplies

It is so thrilling for Jessica to give back and she even tries to make it fun for the little ones.

“On the last day before summer vacation, I tied balloons to the top and stocked the box with bubbles, jump ropes and candy necklaces,” she said to Huffington Post.

The Little Free Pantry turned into a huge movement. Jessica launched The Little Free Pantry website since so many people were excited about starting their own community project. People from all over the world are involved and there are now over 1,000 pantries all across the country.