OUR ROOTS

The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat was first opened on July 4, 2020 in direct response to the massive surge in food insecurity that resulted from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The initial goal of the Pantry was to provide an additional community resource for neighbors struggling to put food on the table. We strongly believed our small scale, crowd sourcing approach to the complex problem of food insecurity would compliment the existing local services, including the Seymour Oxford Food Bank. 

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Since opening, the Pantry has expanded its mission to include organizing, advocacy, and education.

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This is because at the Pantry, we believe every human is inherently worthy and deserving of access to quality nutrition regardless of income level. We also believe that food should be readily available, which is why we have a food distribution model that is open and accessible 24/7. Since opening, the Pantry has remained open through blizzards, tropical storms, and every type of weather in between. We have suffered damage, including a shattered door, but have never let these types of setbacks interfere with food accessibility. 

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In 2022 we renewed our commitment to supporting to our most vulnerable community members by drastically expanding our footprint. As a direct response to the persistent, pervasive local need, we added a larger pantry, turned the original pantry into a Little Free Library, added an apiary, and enlisted the help of our neighbors to build a Community Garden.

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Our vision for the future includes working with local residents, businesses, and nonprofits to further expand the Community Garden to triple it's current size. Adding an additional six garden beds will help address the active barriers to fresh produce access by dramatically increasing both the variety and amount of fresh produce available to our residents. We also plan to coordinate with local leadership to offer a monthly Garden Club which will help cultivate relationships with gardeners, provide mentor opportunities for those interested in growing their own food, and foster a sense of community among those with interest in helping both themselves and their neighbors. 

We've been beyond fortunate to have multiple local partners including TEAM, Inc, Massaro Farm, Tranquil Hive Honey Co., Trinity Episcopal Church, The Blessing Pantry, Immanuel Lutheran Church,  Haven's Harvest, Rooster's Landscape and Garden Supply, Julia Day Nursery & Kindergarten, JNP Landscape, Out on the Limb Tree Service, T.S.W Landscape Design, KES Tree Service, Hair By Lynn LLC, and Seymour Congregational Church. Each of these organizations has been instrumental in helping us better serve our neighbors and we are truly grateful for all they do to support our local communities.

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Of course the true MVPs (Most Valued Partners) of The Little Free Pantry on Skokorat are all of our AMAZING community members who have taken ownership of the Pantry in terms of not only stocking and supplying, but also helping to create an environment where every individual feels seen, heard, and valued.

We like to say that our Pantry is run on SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS. Every food item that enters the Pantry has come there by way of love. That is why the Little Free Pantry on Skokorat is about so much more than a just filling a wooden box with food.  At our core, we are neighbors helping neighbors through small daily acts of kindness, love, and generosity. The strength of our community is what helps the Pantry thrive.