Elementary school students in Chatham-Kent are hoping their project, called the "Little Free Pantry," will address food insecurity.
The "Little Free Pantry" was designed by Grade 5/6 students in Ms. Kranenburg’s class at Queen Elizabeth Public School. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new pantry was held Wednesday afternoon beside Family Services Kent.
According to Kranenburg, her students designed the pantry based on the familiar "take a book, leave a book" concept of the Little Free Library.
Little Free Pantry Unveiling at Family Service Kent. June 28, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent)
"Some of the students were working on a social studies project earlier in the school year and they were looking at the issue of food security in our community. They wanted to do something to help address it, so they decided that they wanted to put up a Little Free Pantry. They kind of used the model of the Little Free Library," explains Kranenburg.
Items in the Little Free Pantry will include non-perishable food and drinks, feminine hygiene products, diapers, toothbrushes, and school supplies.
Kranenburg says the project wouldn't be possible without help from the community.
"We had to approach East Side Pride for a building grant to be able to purchase the materials. Schatz Bros. construction helped to lead the building of the pantry a couple weeks ago, along with some of our family members. [Also], Family Service Kent were gracious enough to let us put it on the property," says Kranenburg.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the class stocked the new pantry with several items to set an example for the community.
The Little Free Pantry is located beside Family Services Kent at 50 Adelaide St. S.
