Troy Shantz
At Naomi Colquhoun’s home the pantry isn’t in the kitchen, it’s outside, and anyone can help themselves to what’s on its shelves.
The Little Free Pantry is always open and contains basic hygienic products for people who need them. Likewise, people with extra are encouraged to leave items in the pantry if they are able.
Colquhoun got the idea after reading a Huffington Post article about Jessica McClard, an Arkansas woman who took the concept of ‘free’ lending libraries that people set up outside homes and offices and adapted it to share soap, toothpaste and shampoo instead.
Colquhoun loved the idea.
“Everything that I’ve read, it’s worked really well in other cities. People will walk by and will say that it’s full all the time, and people are going and dropping off donations. I’m hoping that word get’s out there and it will grow.”
Colquhoun’s pantry opened for business on Sept. 2 and word spread quickly on social media. At press time her post had 162 likes and 63 shares.
Colquhoun lives in a fairly high-traffic area at Davis Street and College Avenue, and even before Facebook took notice the pantry had been seen and used.
“It works. I’ve already filled it up once, and it was gone 20 minutes later.”
Though most are supportive, Colquhoun has received some negative feedback, mainly from people who fear the pantry will be abused or recipients will take too much.
“I have a lot of people who tell me that I should lock it up, or monitor it with security cameras,” she said.
“I think that kinda takes away from the idea of the whole thing. If someone comes by and takes everything, I hope that they need it.”
Colquhoun said the project hasn’t been expensive. The materials and sign were donated and her dad put it together.
“I’m hoping it becomes pretty self-sufficient, where I don’t need to be the only one stocking it, where the community will step up and keep it going,” she said, adding she doesn’t want the personal recognition.
“It’s just to, like, change the life of someone, even if it’s in a small way, like giving them free toilet paper.”
