Little Free Pantry Chatham-Kent

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We encourage all donations to the pantry to be non-perishable food & hygiene products that are not expired. Please do not put clothes, books, or household items in or around the pantry. These can be donated to other organizations in our community instead!

Our Little Free Pantry turned 5!!!

It's because of YOU that we made it and our hearts are full of gratitude. We've had 5 incredible years of meeting and working with extraordinary people in our community. Our Little Free Pantry started as a grade 5/6 class project in 2017. It rapidly grew to include neighbourhood partners and local residents. Since then, a team of community stewards ranging from students to seniors, check on the LFP daily to keep it tidy and safe.

We want to celebrate this 5 year milestone by inviting residents to contribute 5 items to the Little Free Pantry. Items can range from non-perishable food and drinks to feminine hygiene products, diapers, toothbrushes, and school supplies.

The intent of our Little Free Pantry is to provide informal, barrier-free support to anyone in the community experiencing need. We want it to challenge ideas about who is deserving (hint: everyone), to discourage stigma, and to explore what it really means to be a neighbour. We are confident that our community will continue to support this project and all the good it stands for. THANK YOU!

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Check out some of these Kong Sunflowers and Giant Pumpkins that have sprouted! Have you started yours yet?

We are out of the giants, but you still have plenty of time to pick up seeds at any of our 11 locations. Library card = 5 packages of seeds!

Something you can do this World Kindness Day while maintaining social distance.

Another kindness? Always wearing a mask if you’ll be around others not in your household.

Take care, y’all.

Food Link Chatham-Kent Christmas Hamper List and Meal Calendar Update

Many things look different this year, and our release for the Meal Calendar and Christmas Hamper list is another one. Chatham-Kent Public Health is releasing the updated list of all the Christmas Hamper and Holiday Meals available in Chatham-Kent. The list of all organizations that provide Christmas Hampers, including contact information and their respective registration dates has been updated. There is also a list of all community Christmas meals that are available throughout December. https://letstalkfood-ck.com/ck-food-resource-and-meal-calendar/

For the Meal Calendar, an updated paper copy has not been created. As there continues to be ongoing changes, all information on meal programs/soup kitchens, food banks and delivery programs can be found on the CK Food Policy Council Website at https://letstalkfood-ck.com/emergency-food-provider-updates-for-covid-19/.

Additionally, if you are looking for information on other food related programs in CK, visit the CK Food Policy Council website at www.letstalkfood-ck.com for ongoing updates.

If you want to start a LFP, here’s some plans to build one!

How to Replicate the LFP Pilot — mini pantry movement Construction and cut guides based off LFP Pilot Specs

As the winter officially begins, here are some ideas of what you can donate during colder weather to your local LFP!

It’s definitely too cold for cans or glass, but there’s still lots you can donate to your neighborhood Little Free Pantry!

📷: The Little Free Pantry

Advent centers our waiting, our longing for the gifts of Christmas.

The Reverse Advent Calendar is a holiday tradition that encourages mindfulness of our gifts and feeds hungry folks. Simply collect the items (all or any), then donate to a community mini pantry, bricks and mortar pantry, or food bank.

What an amazing start to December! Huge thanks to the Chatham-Kent Public Library for this unbelievable donation! Our community will benefit immensely from this act of kindness.

What a fantastic initiative by the Chatham-Kent Public Library!

This Giving Season, let’s work together to help people in our community! Between November 25 and November 30, patrons can bring in non-perishable food items to any CKPL branch and, as a thank you, CKPL will waive $5.00 in overdue fines per donated item up to a maximum of $50.00 per account. Donations will be given to local organizations to benefit people in communities across Chatham-Kent.