How can I help the little free pantries?
So you want to help the little free pantries (LFPs)? That's great! You can use the following as a guide to help you make choices that are going to have the biggest impact on your community.
What kinds of items should I put in an LFP?
Non-perishable foods are the standard for LFPs, but the options can be overwhelming. If you are doing a food drive to get the food items that you are providing, you may find that you end up with a lot of canned vegetables. Which is good, we certainly never turn away food donations, but no one really wants to eat just a can of green beans for dinner. Try to think about the five food groups, and attempt to represent them all in the LFP that you are filling. Also try to keep in mind that people may not have supplemental ingredients or tools. For this reason, try to seek out packaging that is easy to open, and doesn't require additional ingredients.
Popular LFP items:
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Shelf stable milk
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Cooking oil
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Canned tuna and chicken
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Peanut butter (and jelly!)
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Cereal
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Ready to eat canned soups and pastas
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Canned fruits or single serve fruit cups
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Drink mixes (especially in hot weather)
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Cookies or other small treats (because everyone likes a treat now and then)
Items to skip:
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Boxed Mac and Cheese (requires milk and butter)
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Pasta sides (typically require butter, but some don't!)
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Canned Vegetables (most
boxes have more than folks
want of canned veg already) -
Expired food
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Food with no labels
What should I do when I arrive at a LFP?
The first thing that we do at each stop is check for "out dates". Look for a best buy date on any food currently in the box, and remove any that are past date. Sometimes things hang out for a little too long, or perhaps someone didn't realize it was past date when they donated. Nothing is more disheartening to someone in need then spoiled food. ​
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After checking for out dates, organize the box. Put like items together, like you might see at a grocery store. This will make it easier to see what the box is lacking, and what you might have too much of already. If you do find that you have too much of any one particular item, don't hesitate to redistribute items to other LFPs. A single location may not have any use for 15 cans of kidney beans, but the box down the road might really appreciate them. Spread things out!