Fairfield Little Free Pantries expanding to other towns

The movement to create “little free pantries” where people can drop off food items for those in need is growing by leaps and bounds in Jefferson County.

The group Fairfield Iowa Little Free Pantries will soon register its 10th pantry in town. The pantries are wooden boxes that look like little homes with windows, doors and a roof. They typically contain non-perishable food items that members of the community can take for free.

In 2021 alone, the group has added pantries at 104 N. Court St. outside Thymely Solutions, at 401 E. Buchanan and a third that is built but whose location is yet to be determined.

Not only is the group expanding rapidly in Fairfield, but it’s branching into other towns in the county, too. The group announced that a little free pantry will be placed near the Lockridge post office after getting approval from the Lockridge City Council on April 6. Girl Scout Troop No. 2564 and Boy Scout Troop No. 64 will install the pantry by the time school is dismissed this summer.

The group recently announced that, with the addition of the Lockridge pantry, it will change its name to Jefferson County Little Free Pantries. The organization is a nonprofit group made up of volunteers who are seeking a way to supplement the work of other food-service charities such as The Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County and Carry On Bags.

“Little free panties provide an anonymous and immediate way for neighbors to pick up what they need to get through the moment,” said group member Melanie Carlson. “The motto of the Little Free Pantry movement is ’Take what you need, give what you can.’”

Carlson said she became involved with the Little Free Pantry movement through Erica Voreis, one of the group’s members in charge of outreach. Carlson said she enjoys woodworking as a hobby and felt she couldn’t find an outlet for her interest.

“I was getting the itch to build something,” Carlson said.

Voreis told her that her organization was looking for people to build pantries, and Carlson loved that idea. Carlson built a pantry that is now on Gear Avenue in Fairfield between 10th and 12th streets. Because she lives near Lockridge, she was the driving force behind getting that town its first pantry, too.

Carlson said the group felt that, with Fairfield soon to get its 10th pantry, the town was well served. The group’s goal has been to put pantries about six-10 blocks apart to ensure they’re within walking distance of anywhere in town. She said the group now wants to help those in other towns in the county set up their own pantries.

The group is willing to help build the pantries, but what it needs most is a person or people in the other towns who are willing to maintain the pantry.

Residents can contact Deb Pogel (dpogel@gmail.com) to learn about establishing a pantry in their community. The group can assist with funds to build the pantry, construction guides and promotion of any new pantry. Those wishing to provide a cash donation can contact Divine Star Charity, 200 W. Washington St., Fairfield, IA 52556.