The Little Free Pantry

The Little Free Pantry is making its way to Hardin County in an effort to provide the County with daily essentials and promote a ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ spirit.  LFP is set apart from other resources in the community by their non-restrictive hours. At least one Little Free Pantry will be placed in each community in Hardin County.  The idea behind the small wooden pantries began in 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas when a local resident Jessica McClard had the simple idea to stock wooden boxes around the community with food and personal care items. McClard was also inspired by Little Free Libraries, a national trend that began in Wisconsin in 2012.  Now, more than 50 communities across the nation have adopted this simple but effective effort. Typically, the little pantries are filled with nonperishable foods and drinks, toiletries and information about how those in need can find long-term help. In cold months, they offer hats, scarves and gloves.  Rocky Reents, the project director of the Hardin County Little Free Pantries, was proud to receive a grant through the Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation to assist in completing this project.  In Hardin County, 11.7% of individuals are considered food insecure.  This equates to about 2,040 Hardin County Residents, of these residents, and unfortunately 775 individuals do not qualify for food assistance.  The Little Free Pantry is open 24/7. You don’t have to ask for help. You can just come up and get it.  No one has to know that person is in need because one of the hardest things is for someone to ask for help.  I feel that this is a very worthy cause, and this is going to help a lot of people in need.  Our County currently has various food banks, but the Little Free Pantries gives people access during non-available hours, and plus, it’s very discreet. Whatever they need, hopefully, the box will be an alternative.  The majority of the Little Free Pantries are already out in Hardin County so now we are focusing our efforts on keeping them stocked.

Rocky Reents
Project Director
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