Little Free Library Pantry
It’s a scary time for many residents in Mt. Sterling. Donations are especially needed during these uncertain times. Rising bills cut into grocery funds for many households. New non-perishable food items in undamaged and unexpired cans and boxes are welcome and needed by the community. Please leave your donated items inside the “blessing box” across the street from the main entrance of the library on Water Street. Homemade, fresh produce, and items in jars are not accepted because of weather element exposure but suggested to take to the Mt. Sterling Food Pantry at the Community Center where they can distribute them. Other items welcome are new, unopened, unexpired hygiene products such as feminine hygiene products, packaged toiletries like toothpaste and toothbrushes, etc. Pet food in cans are also accepted. Please donate any bagged pet foods to the community center food pantry as it could become wet inside the blessing box.
Suggested items for donation include:
Oatmeal, canned fruit and veggies, canned meat, canned pasta, canned sauces, canned milk, peanut butter and jelly in plastic jars, packaged gravies, sauces, and salad dressings, canned soups and stews, boxed crackers, boxed pastas, cereal, and other items resistant to the elements of heat and cold. Holiday themed items are always welcome and encouraged during the holidays.
This is a hybrid of books and food. When we run low on food donations there will always be books available as it is an officially registered Little Free Library with its own steward with the motto to ‘Take a book, leave a book”. The hybrid motto is “Take what you need, leave what you can” to encourage others in need to give back whenever possible and pay the movement forward. This pantry is not owned nor run by the library.
The Little Free Library Pantry is monitored throughout the week by a committee of 5 people made up of library affiliated and non- library affiliated community members. If you would like to help out on the committee monitor and help promote donations, or if you have bulk donations that do not all fit in the pantry, but you want to donate at all together, please reach out to committee chairperson Melissa at 614.315.7939.
You may also send photos after you have donated so that they can be published on library social media by sending a private message to the library’s social media pages.
https://www.facebook.com/mtsterlingpubliclibrary
https://www.instagram.com/mtsterlingpubliclibrary
Our History…
This idea was the brainchild of Assistant Librarian Melissa Reece since the spring of 2020. Witnessing everything all around our community concerning food shortages, loss of jobs and the extra stress put on families to stretch the almighty dollar, she had this idea for a while about having a Little Free Library that she had discussed with our previous director. However, the pandemic had her wheels turning and she wanted to add food to it and make it a hybrid. The Friends of the Library got behind her idea, and we decided to move forward with it.
Originally, her thought was that this would make a great Boy Scout Eagle project. When that did not work out after a year and a half due to being plagued by illnesses, Steve Chambers volunteered to make our pantry. Steve completed the box within a matter of a month or so and Melissa was off to the races with all the many details worked out to get this out here for our community. This pantry is a hybrid of books and food under the motto of “Take what you need, leave what you can”. Melissa reached out to the community to see who would be interested in joining a few members of the Friends of the Library on a committee. In doing so she was contacted by Charlie Morrison almost immediately and he offered to sponsor the pantry with his company MCR Medical Supplies and be a part of this committee.
Charlie’s employees created their own “fun committee” to hold a food and book drive to fill our pantry. This pantry will be kept up by a committee of people dedicated to keeping it stocked, checking for items that expire or do not belong in the box, and keeping an eye on it. The committee will coordinate ocassional food and book donation drives and establish days of collection if necessary.
This pantry took the work of many ideas and hands to allow Melissa’s vision to come to fruition. She coordinated a ribbon cutting ceremony with the local newspaper, village council, Friends of the Library and other community members. Some of whom credit and thanks for giving a lending hand are listed below in their roles:
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.
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 helped install the pantry with Phillip Reece.
Angela McFarland – Presenting Melissa’s proposal 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.
Thank you to the library board of Trustees for their continued support.
Some Friends of the Library members have been patiently waiting, with their own donations ready and available. Thank you to everyone for making this happen!
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. A list will be posted on the library website. Contact Melissa as the Committee Chair. Information on how to join us with this committee will continue to be seen on the library’s website and social media. Please reach out to me here today if you are interested in joining us. It takes a Village!
THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY PANTRY – ACCEPTABLE FOOD ITEMS
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 books or food outside the pantry or at the library.
Suggestions
Books, graphic novels, comic books, and magazines in good condition for all ages without mold, mildew, rips, tears, or damage.
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 meats
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.
Small bags or canned pet food
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. If you know someone or a family in need, please urge them to use this resource.