Burien’s first ‘Little Free Pantry’ has been installed and is open to sharing and being stocked at 12424 21st Ave South (map below) in the Boulevard Park neighborhood.
Little Free Pantries are intended to encourage neighborhood engagement around food insecurity by addressing immediate and local needs. They aren’t designed to replace food banks; rather these pantries work alongside traditional models to offer zero-barrier access to food and to help fill gaps in the system.
Foods stocked inside this pantry are all shelf stable items, but specific items will change depending on who is donating and what organizers are able to buy for it. Currently there are cans of tomato soup and beans, pouches of a microwaveable rice/grain blend, dry soup mixes and a handful of snacky items like protein bars and popcorn.
“I’m excited to be part of such a positive program,” pantry creator Lisa Victoria Nolte told The B-Town Blog. “The Little Free Pantries are all over Seattle, and it would be awesome to see more spread out over Burien and White Center. The idea is simple but impactful – anyone can donate to and anyone can take from these free pantries.”
“I will be keeping it stocked to the best of my ability, but the idea behind these pantries is to also create community involvement,” Nolte added.
A batch of new pantries are being finished and anyone interested in hosting a Little Free Pantry can learn more and sign up at www.thelittlefreepantries.org.
