Focused on the slogan of ‘take what you need, share what you can’, the Little Free Pantry has been launched at the Library Park in Wallaceburg.
Wallaceburg residents Rick Bernard and Loree Bailey, who spearheaded the initiative, told the Sydenham Current they created the project in order to help with the food insecurity issue in the community.
“It’s for anybody and everybody to come up and take whatever groceries or personal supplies they can use out of this pantry,” Bernard said.
“If you think you have a little extra cash in your pocket and you want to donate something to give back, that’s great. You can buy whatever you want and put it back in there… just so the next person can use it.”
The couple said they got the idea from local teacher Jen Kranenburg, who launched a similar initiative at Queen Elizabeth Public School in Chatham.
“It has been going over really well for them, so we figured we’d try it here in Wallaceburg and help out the community,” Bernard said.
“We picked this spot because there is no close by grocery store,” added Bailey, about the location between the Wallaceburg Adult Activity Centre and the Dundas Bridge in downtown Wallaceburg.
“People can use it for any reason, but if you’re walking, or maybe you’re using a walker or a wheelchair, and you don’t live too far from here, it might be a bit more of a struggle to get to grocery stores. So we thought this was a good spot.”
Bailey said her and Bernard made the initial donation into the pantry, with non-perishable food items, dog food and personal care items.
“If somebody had a lot of stuff they wanted to donate and it wouldn’t fit, or they weren’t sure, they could reach out to us on the Facebook page and then we can let people know that it’s here,” Bailey said.
“It’s really important that people are thinking about stuff that has to be stable in the weather. Fresh soup doesn’t go in here, even fresh vegetables, stuff that is going to go bad, nothing expired, the stuff has to have labels on it.”
Bernard said it was a smooth process working with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to be given permission to install the pantry.
“We toured around Wallaceburg trying to find a good spot that was going to get publicity, as far as people seeing it and accessibility of course,” Bernard said.
“We talked to Jane McGee (supervisor of recreation facilities in Wallaceburg) and had an hour long conversation, picked the spot and here we are.”
Bernard said they are hoping to make a positive impact with the pantry.
“There is the unfortunate aspect of the poverty and the hunger, but maybe this will help some people not being quite so hungry and maybe take the hunger away from others. Something positive, upbeat.”
Bailey added: “There is definitely food insecurity in Wallaceburg, there is no question about that, and in Chatham-Kent. I know, just from working with community dinners and the food rescue, Wallaceburg does care about Wallaceburg. I really think people will put things in it knowing that somebody else is going to be able to benefit from it. I really believe that.”
Bernard’s son’s, Joe and Max, along with his father Gerry helped install the pantry on Sunday morning, October 14, 2018.
Contact them through the Facebook page, here.
