As the COVID-19 pandemic began rearing its head in the spring of 2020, Lewisburg resident Clare Sammells noticed that many community members were losing their jobs.
“There soon became a need for food,” said Sammells, a professor of Anthropology at Bucknell University. She and her family responded to this need by setting up a Little Free Pantry outside of their house. The pantry is located in front of 225 N. Front Street, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Donations and pick-ups are anonymous: it is only monitored for the restocking of pantry goods, which include non-perishable foods like peanut butter, beans, soup, shelf-stable milk, health care items, school supplies, snacks, and coupons.
Sammells runs a Lewisburg Little Free Pantry Facebook page and frequently updates the page with new items that are available. To expand outreach, Sammells posted about the pantry on the Gift Economy Society of Greater Lewisburg PA Facebook page as well as on the Nextdoor App Help Map.
When reflecting on the past year of the Little Free Pantry’s existence, Sammells says that “a lot of people want to help their neighbors and just don’t know how.” The Little Free Pantry accepts anonymous drop-offs from community members and follows the philosophy of “take what you need and leave what you can.”
In addition to the Little Free Pantry, Sammells and her family also run a Little Free Library located alongside the pantry at 225 N. Front Street, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The contents of the library are often shared on the Facebook page and include books for all ages.
The Little Free Pantry and the Little Free Library are open 24/7. During rain and snow, they are covered with a tarp but still accessible. If there are items that community members need but don’t see in the pantry, Sammells said that they should feel free to message her on the Lewisburg PA Little Free Pantry Facebook page, as she is sometimes able to put together a personalized box for pick-up.
The Little Free Pantry is for everyone in the community. Sammells notes that people are dealing with a lot right now and they should not have to worry about having enough food or where their next meal is coming from. Boxes of donations appear often at the Little Free Pantry — Sammells says that it has been heartening for her to see the community’s contributions.
In addition to the Lewisburg Little Free Pantry, there is another local pantry located at 515 Broad Street, West Milton, Pennsylvania, at the Rotary Club bus stop.
If you would like to donate or pick up food, the Lewisburg Little Free Pantry is here for the entire community.
If you are interested in donating to the pantry, the items listed below are in high demand.
Donation List: Non-Perishable Foods
No money donations at this time
Peanut Butter
Stove Top Stuffing
Soup
Ultra-Pasteurized (shelf-stable) Milk
Pet food (Dogs, Cats)
Cereal
Granola
Chips
Beans
Health Care items
Pasta
Granola Bars
Coupons
School Supplies
Lewisburg PA Little Free Pantry: https://www.facebook.com/LewisburgPAFreePantry/