Library Pantry Donation Collection Saturday, May 27
The Little Free Library Pantry Committee will accept donations of undamaged, and unexpired canned and boxed goods for the Little Free Library Pantry on Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. inside the library. Homemade food and items in jars cannot be accepted. The food is collected only once a month on a pre-determined date and time in advance, usually on the 4th Saturday of the month. The Little Free Library Pantry is a separate entity from Mt. Sterling Public Library and is run by a committee of 5 volunteers. If you would like to join the committee, please reach out to Melissa at 614.315.7939
ACCEPTABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY PANTRY
Non-perishable and unexpired canned and boxed items are ideal. No homemade food, or glass jars can be accepted. All items must be in good condition. Please be mindful of not donating items that will be spoiled quickly or ruined by excessive heat or cold. If the box is full, please do not leave outside the pantry or at the library. Designated donation days will be the 4th Saturday of the month at the library beginning January 28 from 10-2 only unless published otherwise. There will only be one donation day in December. We currently have items stored to replenish.
Suggestions
Cereals Instant Oatmeal
Pancake mixes Peanut Butter in plastic jars or tubs
Powdered and canned evaporated milk Cookies and crackers without filling
Canned vegetables and fruit Canned tuna and chicken
Canned beans Canned beans and wieners
Canned pastas such as ravioli, etc. Canned pasta sauce
Canned Soups Packets of dressing mix
Packets of soup Packets of gravy and dips
Raman noodles Dehydrated fruit
Boxed pastas such as macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, etc.
Canned baby formula mix Bar soap & Hygiene Items
Occasionally there may be items like a loaf of bread or bags of noodles and similar items. Operating under the honor system of “Take what you need, leave what you can” this is open to anyone of any income level with no judgement. You will not have to provide any proof of financial eligibility or fill out any forms. We encourage the community to help us maintain this pantry (aka “blessing box”) and participate with us in maintaining this. To donate or sign up to be on our committee to help you do not have to be a member of Friends of the Library. Our established committee will welcome others in the community to join us to help in keeping and collecting as well as filling and monitoring this little free library pantry.
Books should be in good condition with no mold or mildew, torn, ripped, stained, or marked up pages or covers. Adult and children’s books are welcome. Please do not put anything inappropriate in the pantry. We do not accept encyclopedias or outdated publications.
This pantry took the work of many ideas and hands to allow my vision to come to fruition.
Melissa Reece – Conception, planning and research, photos, securing donations, Committee Chair, Liaison for coordinating with library director, Friends of the Library, committee members, village council, Chamber of Commerce, pantry sponsor, etc.
Bev Kern – Originally coordinating with local Boy Scout Troop on Melissa’s idea for this pantry to be an Eagle Scout project.
Mt. Sterling Friends of the Library – Input and support, paid for building supplies and thank you gift to Steve Chambers.
Steve Chambers – Built the pantry, donated the cement, and helped install the post, as well as installed the pantry with assistance from Steve Brindza.
Angela McFarland – Presenting to the board for a second consideration, solution to our builder issue, committee member.
Holly Drake – Committee member assisting with ideas, solutions and watch over the pantry.
Carrie Alkire – Committee member assisting with ideas, solutions and watch over the pantry.
Andrew Drake – Coordinated with town hall on any rules for digging and securing call to PUCO marking for digging allowance.
Phillip Reece – Rented the auger, dug the hole, and installed the post for the pantry box, with use of his own tools, mixed and poured the concrete to set the post.
Charlie Morrison – Committee member & Proprietor of sponsoring company. Providing a food drive, ideas and solutions, assistance and watch over the pantry.
MCR Medical Supplies – Sponsor for supplies including food staples and a committee of employees dedicated as the “Fun Committee” securing donations of food and books.
MCR Medical Supplies “Fun Committee” – a team of employees who spearheaded donations of food and books to supply the pantry.
Steve Brindza – Coordinating with committee chair, library board, and Steve Chambers, assisted in mounting the pantry box.
Thank you to the library board of Trustees for their continued support.
The Mt. Sterling Friends of the Library’s Little Free Library Pantry is completed and stocked. Thank you to all in the community who came out to join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony, and to the Friends of the Library for providing cookies and coffee in a casual reception on the library’s main level following the brief ceremony.
The pantry is a hybrid of food and books and has its inaugural first time fill just prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony. The Little Free Library Pantry is cared for by a committee of dedicated volunteers and is run under the “Take what you need, leave what you can” motto.
Scroll down for photos of the day we had the post installed, and the pantry mounted. We want to thank Steve Chambers for making this beautiful blessing box and being instrumental in getting it installed, and Charlie Morrison and his company and employees of MCR Medical for sponsoring this pantry and their food rally for our “grand opening” to come!
Mt. Sterling Friends of the Library are proud to announce that we now have a new Little Free Library Pantry for our community installed on the library’s property and open to anyone with a need for food or who would like to take a book. We will be accepting donations from the community of non-perishable and unexpired canned and boxed items. No homemade food or glass jars can be accepted. All items must be in good condition. The Little Free Library will operate under the honor system of “Take what you need, leave what you can.” This is open to anyone of any income level with no judgement. You will not have to provide any proof of financial eligibility or fill out any forms. We encourage the community to help us maintain this pantry (aka “blessing box”) and participate with us on maintaining this. To donate or sign up to be on our committee to help you do not have to be a member of the Friends of the Library. We are establishing a community committee with our Friends of the Library members to help in keeping and collecting as well as filling and monitoring this little free library pantry. The library itself is not responsible so please contact Committee Chair, Melissa Reece at 614-315-7939 or via the library social media pages (see links below) by sending a private or direct message.
Thank You to Steve Chambers for making our beautiful Li
