Webster community members who are struggling to put food on the table now have another resource to help stretch their grocery dollars. The Webster Public Library recently installed a free food pantry just outside the library’s front doors.
The idea of a free food pantry is simple. They’re typically stand-alone cabinets stocked with food and personal hygiene items, where the concept is “take what you need, leave what you can.” The library’s pantry is a little different, though; thanks to the generosity of a local farmer (who also built the pantry), it’s been stocked with lots of fresh produce, in addition to other non-perishable food items.
It was actually the farmer (who prefers to remain anonymous) who came up with the idea for the pantry. According to Teen and Family Experiences Librarian Colleen Hernandez, her farmer friend said she had a lot of extra produce that doesn’t get sold at the stands or go to grocery stores, and was looking for a home for it all. And it just so happens she also wanted a project, so she bought the pantry and assembled it herself.
During the growing season, generally April through January, she’ll be dropping off produce one or two times a week. The ultimate goal, however, is that the pantry will become mostly self-sustaining, with community members donating non-perishable items. Colleen also hopes to organize pantry-specific food drives at the library a few times a year to help keep the new pantry stocked, so keep an eye out for them.
In the meantime, consider dropping off some non-perishable food items in the new Webster Library free food pantry to help kick-start this new food resource for our neighbors in need.
The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.
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(posted 9/29/2024)
webster on the web 
Everything about this is awesome!
Ain’t it, though? 🙂