LIttle Free Pantries (formerly Blessing Boxes)

[+jhuoni 18]

Please take a moment to read and comment on the following category proposal.  

 

Free Little Pantries and Blessing Boxes

 

Description:
A Little Free Pantry, Blessing Box, or by any other name is what this category is looking for. The idea is simple. The box is a miniature food pantry -- receiving items from those who want to donate, and offering it to those who need them. The most common design is that of the Free Little Library - a post mounted wooden box with a door to protect the contents from the elements. Inside is placed non perishable food items..

 

 

Expanded Description:
Little Free Pantries and Blessing Boxes are along the same concept as Little Free Libraries but they are filled with donated, free nonperishable foods and personal hygiene products and left in public locations. The Little Free Pantry utilizes a familiar, compelling concept to pique local interest in and action against local food insecurity. The Little Free Pantry offers a place around which neighbors might coalesce to meet neighborhood needs. The typical Little Free Pantry looks like a Little Free Library but they have their own website and mapping network. (visit link)

 

The motto of the little free library might be Take One, Leave One. The motto of the Little Free Pantries box would be Take what you need, Leave what you can.

 

The preceding is from the Little Free Pantry website: (littlefreepantry.org)

 

 

How does the Little Free Pantry differ from other food pantries?

 

• The LFP is small, so it cannot stock the quantity and variety other food pantries can. For this reason, it should not be relied on for meeting pervasive need.
• Many food pantries require application before use and have set hours of operation. Anyone may access the LFP at any time.
• Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients. The LFP dissolves that professional boundary. Whether stocking or taking stock, everyone approaches the LFP the same way, mediating the shame that accompanies need.
• Food pantries are critical in addressing food insecurity. But some fall through the cracks. The LFP is a safety net.
• The LFP is a proving ground, testing concepts like community, charity, justice, and sharing economy.

 

Instructions for Posting a Little Free Pantry Waymark:

 

Long Description:  Please include a description of the FLP, its location and some of the items which are inside.

A minimum of TWO ORIGINAL SENTENCES are required.

 

Language Requirement:"If your Waymark submission is located in a non English speaking area, please include an English translation in addition to your country's language.

 

Photo Requirement: At least TWO photos are required. One close up and one showing the FLP and surroundings. Additional photos are appreciated.

 

Naming of Waymark:
Title: Name - Town/City - State/Province - Country.

 

Instructions for Visiting a Waymark in this Category:

First and foremost respect the privacy of anyone in the area.

Post at least one photo taken during your Waymarking visit along with your comments about the FLP or your visit.

 

As of this draft, there are no photos in the description.  Do they need to be added?  

Edited March 9 by jhuoni
Added LONG DESCRIPTION requirements -- removed line spacing in bullets -- edited "Language Requirement" statement -- Added "from website" info.

[+Max and 99 1680]

Minor comment: If there isn't signage to take a photo of?

 

I love this category idea!

 

 

[+Max and 99 1680]

It is my opinion....that these little pantries shouldn't be in the Little Free Library category. When I voted for the free community book exchange, only books were mentioned. Not food donations. I definitely think the pantries should be in their own category. But what about the pantries that are already waymarked until the free community book exchange category? It is my opinion that one shouldn't be in both categories.

[+elyob 141]

4 minutes ago, Max and 99 said:

It is my opinion....that these little pantries shouldn't be in the Little Free Library category. When I voted for the free community book exchange, only books were mentioned. Not food donations. I definitely think the pantries should be in their own category. But what about the pantries that are already waymarked until the free community book exchange category? It is my opinion that one shouldn't be in both categories.

It's unlikely that those pantries accepted in error in the book exchange category would be cross-posted in the new category.

[+jhuoni 18]

 

I guess if there isn't a sign, you take a photo showing contents.

[+Max and 99 1680]

I'm just bringing up things now to hopefully avoid issues later.

[+fi67 143]

You don't want a long description?

[+Max and 99 1680]

28 minutes ago, fi67 said:

You don't want a long description?

How about at least two sentences? Maybe three, if we want to push the limits.

[+iconions 145]

Nicely done - I concur about the long description.  Possibly a physical description of the boxes location, of the box itself.   I just do not like waymarks without a long description - they just look like drivebys...

[+PISA-caching 155]

The description says "Anyone may access the LFP at any time.". Does that mean that such places wouldn't be accepted, if they are NOT available 7x24?

 

I checked several locations at https://foodsharing.de/karte and found only one that is available day and night.

[+jhuoni 18]

Added Long Description requirements

 

Thanks for pointing that out.  

[+jhuoni 18]

11 hours ago, PISA-caching said:

The description says "Anyone may access the LFP at any time.". Does that mean that such places wouldn't be accepted, if they are NOT available 7x24?

 

I checked several locations at https://foodsharing.de/karte and found only one that is available day and night.

 

I don't believe that hours of availability would be a problem.   I found refrigerated food in the UK.  I am sure that these are somehow secured overnight,  

 

Yes, the Freedge would be accepted as well. 

 

[+ScroogieII 43]

Hi John,

"If your waymark submission is located outside the USA"

Please amend that to read something more like "If your Waymark submission is located in a non English speaking area".

That sentence is, however inadvertently, extremely nationalistic, somewhat regionalistic, particularly with regard to its its potentially negatively inferred meaning. It disregards the entirety of the English speaking world outside the USA, of which there is a great deal. In terms of both land area and population, it exceeds those of the USA.

Thanks, Keith

 

PS - I would suggest that you remove the spaces between the bulletted points. The bullets themselves create sufficient "spacing" between individual points. That's their job.

Edited March 7 by ScroogieII

[+Max and 99 1680]

Instructions for Visiting a Waymark in this Category:

First and foremost respect the privacy of anyone in the area.

Post a photo taken during your Waymarking visit along with a brief comment.  

 

__________________

Let's not discourage visitors from posting longer comments in their visit logs.

 

Something that came to mind today: I'm ONLY asking because the LFL asks for the address. Is it necessary? Will that be helpful information to others? Maybe not, if the location is described in the short or long description. Just something to consider. I personally would rather just give location information in the description and make it part of my two original sentence minimum. Only half-kidding!

[+jhuoni 18]

20 hours ago, ScroogieII said:

Hi John,

"If your waymark submission is located outside the USA"

Please amend that to read something more like "If your Waymark submission is located in a non English speaking area".

That sentence is, however inadvertently, extremely nationalistic, somewhat regionalistic, particularly with regard to its its potentially negatively inferred meaning. It disregards the entirety of the English speaking world outside the USA, of which there is a great deal. In terms of both land area and population, it exceeds those of the USA.

Thanks, Keith

 

PS - I would suggest that you remove the spaces between the bulletted points. The bullets themselves create sufficient "spacing" between individual points. That's their job.

 

Edited translation sentence.

 

Took out the spaces - they were actually caused when I pasted the whole thing in.

[+ScroogieII 43]

On 3/5/2020 at 3:00 PM, jhuoni said:

• The LFP is small, so it cannot stock the quantity and variety other food pantries can. For this reason, it should not be relied on for meeting pervasive need.
• Many food pantries require application before use and have set hours of operation. Anyone may access the LFP at any time.
• Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients. The LFP dissolves that professional boundary. Whether stocking or taking stock, everyone approaches the LFP the same way, mediating the shame that accompanies need.
• Food pantries are critical in addressing food insecurity. But some fall through the cracks. The LFP is a safety net.
• The LFP is a proving ground, testing concepts like community, charity, justice, and sharing economy.

 

 

Some small suggestions for you, John

 

mediating the shame that accompanies need.

ameliorating the shame that accompanies need. - this seems to better express your inferred intent.

 

Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients.

Food pantries operate as service providers to those who use them as clients.

 

Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients. The LFP dissolves that professional boundary. Whether stocking or taking stock, everyone approaches the LFP the same way, mediating the shame that accompanies need.

Here, I'm not certain what you're trying to say.  I don't understand the "professional boundary" to which you refer. I think I may have an inkling of what you intend here, but don't quite grasp it.

 

Thanks, Keith

[+jhuoni 18]

2 hours ago, ScroogieII said:

 

Some small suggestions for you, John

 

mediating the shame that accompanies need.

ameliorating the shame that accompanies need. - this seems to better express your inferred intent.

 

Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients.

Food pantries operate as service providers to those who use them as clients.

 

Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients. The LFP dissolves that professional boundary. Whether stocking or taking stock, everyone approaches the LFP the same way, mediating the shame that accompanies need.

Here, I'm not certain what you're trying to say.  I don't understand the "professional boundary" to which you refer. I think I may have an inkling of what you intend here, but don't quite grasp it.

 

Thanks, Keith

 

Uh, I copied that from their site.  

[+ScroogieII 43]

8 hours ago, jhuoni said:

 

Uh, I copied that from their site.  

That explains it, then... 

[+Max and 99 1680]

8 hours ago, jhuoni said:

 

Uh, I copied that from their site.  

On the category page, maybe the quote from the LFP site should be attributed to the source. 

[+jhuoni 18]

15 hours ago, Max and 99 said:

On the category page, maybe the quote from the LFP site should be attributed to the source. 

 

Done.  

 

The preceding is from the Little Free Pantry website: (littlefreepantry.org)

 

 

How does the Little Free Pantry differ from other food pantries? .......

[+jhuoni 18]

This category has been sent to PEER REVIEW.

 

 

[+Max and 99 1680]

Just wondering if the "preceding" is correctly placed, since it seems that the words following it are what's taken from the LFP website? Maybe?

[+elyob 141]

Vote while you can.  Please keep two metres away from fellow voters.

[+jhuoni 18]

21 hours ago, Max and 99 said:

Just wondering if the "preceding" is correctly placed, since it seems that the words following it are what's taken from the LFP website? Maybe?

 

You are correct, the word should be "FOLLOWING". We will have to fix that one if it goes forward.  

 

Thanks 

[+ScroogieII 43]

3 hours ago, jhuoni said:

FOLLOWING

Proceeding works, too.

Keith

[+T0SHEA 176]

34 minutes ago, ScroogieII said:

Keith

Do you remember where we saw a food pantry, thinking it was a LFL?

It seems it was in a small park?

[+ScroogieII 43]

Yep - it was in the tiny park at the foot of Spokane Street, just below 1st Avenue. (Rossland)

Long term memory still functioning to some extent  - short term memory, substantially less so. 

 

BTW - I think I just got your Avatar!!!!!

Keith

PS - If you can't find pix I may have them - who knows?

Edited March 17 by ScroogieII

[+Max and 99 1680]

The category is looking good in peer review!

[+ScroogieII 43]

1 minute ago, T0SHEA said:

Bet you thought it was a fish out of water: wrong. 

Nope - guess again. Quite the opposite. I believe I see the REAL meaning.

[+Max and 99 1680]

Back on topic: When did the peer review go live? How much time is left?

[+ScroogieII 43]

"Posted yesterday at 12:26 

This category has been sent to PEER REVIEW."

Edited March 17 by ScroogieII

[+Max and 99 1680]

Not a big deal, but I'm not a fan of the address variable for certain categories.  Unless, the officers will accept nearest streets.

[+elyob 141]

1 hour ago, Max and 99 said:

Not a big deal, but I'm not a fan of the address variable for certain categories.  Unless, the officers will accept nearest streets.

 

Sometimes I just use the made-up address on Google Maps.

[+Max and 99 1680]

31 minutes ago, elyob said:

 

Sometimes I just use the made-up address on Google Maps.

Don't say that out loud!

[+T0SHEA 176]

21 hours ago, ScroogieII said:

Yep - it was in the tiny park at the foot of Spokane Street, just below 1st Avenue. (Rossland)

 

Yep, it is still there. Barely could see the tip of the roof above all the snow. The road crew must push all the snow into this park. Downtown is clear, Hwy to Rossland is clear. It will be May before enough snow melts to actually take pictures. BTW: the park is on Spokane.

[+jhuoni 18]

 From 12/6/19 in another message thread:

 

After going through all 524 entries in Permanent Charity Donation Locations,  I see three different types of waymarks:

 

Donation Bins

Storefronts

Recycling Stations

 

The category description  reads: "Permanent locations used to collect clothing, household goods, non-perishable food, and other items for charity."  

 

None of the waymarks I see have anything to do with food donations.  Most of them are donations to organizations which resell the items to benefit their mission.  

 

These are not Little Free Librairies by any means.

 

The Little Free Pantry organization has a website http://www.littlefreepantry.org 

 

Where I live, Galveston County, Texas, there are several of these locations.  

 

These are 24 hour, anonymous  food banks.  Used by people in need when they do not have access to the other resources .   Two that I see on a frequent basis are stocked solely by community donation, with no affiliation to any business or church.  

 

If these should be considered Permanent Charity Donation Locations then Little Free Libraries should be in the same category as Libraries.

 

 

[+jhuoni 18]

From Literary Hub - Dan Sheehan March 18, 2020

 

Big Hearted Strangers Turn Little Free Librairies Into Little Free Pantries

 

Sign says "To help our neighbors affected by the COVID-19 crisis, this Little Free Library is converted to a Little Free Pantry. Take what you need and if you can, please donate what you can spare!"

[+Max and 99 1680]

20 minutes ago, jhuoni said:

From Literary Hub - Dan Sheehan March 18, 2020

 

Big Hearted Strangers Turn Little Free Librairies Into Little Free Pantries

 

Sign says "To help our neighbors affected by the COVID-19 crisis, this Little Free Library is converted to a Little Free Pantry. Take what you need and if you can, please donate what you can spare!"

Interesting!  We only have two free pantries in my town, but I wonder if more will pop up now. We love how convenient it is to drop off donations, and how much easier it if for both the person donating and the person taking food (no application, showing documentation, only able to go when the facility is open).

[+Max and 99 1680]

So far, on the public-only votes, there's a 72%  approve ratio.

[wayfrog 70]

Congratulations. The result was very close. 

[+Max and 99 1680]

Congratulations Hobo Larry!

 

[+Max and 99 1680]

I cancelled two of my submissions because I had forgotten the required country in the title. Looks like I'm not the only one.

[+jhuoni 18]

I'd like to thank everyone for their input and attention to this.

 

I know that we all have a lot of other things that are more important these days.

 

With so much uncertainty in the world, Waymarking is probably the last thing on your mind.  

 

Be safe and stay well

John 

[+jhuoni 18]

Freedges are also accepted in this category.

 

Freedges (Community Refrigerators)

Freedge is a sharing mechanism aiming to reduce food waste and build a stronger community. We promote the installation of community fridges (public refrigerators) that are used to share food and ideas at the neighborhood level.

GIVE
Leaving for the weekend with a full fridge? … OR Too many leftovers after a dinner party? … OR Your garden is full of fruits and veggies and you don’t know what to do with all that produce?

TAKE
Feeling Hungry? Check the freedge… OR Planning a grocery run? Maybe the ingredient you need is there waiting for you.

SHARE
Get involved in your community! Freedge is a free sharing space used not only for food, but also stories, art and ideas!

Freedge Locations.

Argentina 4 
Belgium 2 
Brazil 59 
Canada 11 
Columbia 1 
Egypt 1 
France 2 
India 1 
Lebanon 2 
Slovakia 2 
US 14

[+T0SHEA 176]

1 hour ago, jhuoni said:

Leaving for the weekend with a full fridge? … OR Too many leftovers after a dinner party?

 

What does this mean exactly?

Someone made too much spaghetti and meatballs, so they leave it off in one of these Freedges (Community Refrigerators).

No thanks, who made it, who touched it, who may have sampled it or even worse contaminated with no telling what: COVID-19.

[+T0SHEA 176]

On 3/18/2020 at 4:20 PM, jhuoni said:

The category description  reads: "Permanent locations used to collect clothing, household goods, non-perishable food, and other items for charity."  

 

Interesting

1. Blessing Box and Little Free Library - Bloomingdale, Indiana - USA

(Permanent Charity Donation Locations)

 

2. Blessing Box and Little Free Library - Bloomingdale, Indiana - USA

 (Free Community Book Exchanges)

 

Too late now, however this is just too coincidental to pass up. 

Will the leader of the group allow the first example to be cross posted in Little Free Pantry? 

I wonder...

 

On 3/18/2020 at 4:20 PM, jhuoni said:

If these should be considered Permanent Charity Donation Locations then Little Free Libraries should be in the same category as Libraries.

 

Following your logic the second example should go in Libraries.

Edited March 22 by T0SHEA

[+Max and 99 1680]

On 3/5/2020 at 6:37 PM, Max and 99 said:

But what about the pantries that are already waymarked until the free community book exchange category? It is my opinion that one shouldn't be in both categories.

 

45 minutes ago, T0SHEA said:

Will the leader of the group allow the first example to be cross posted in Little Free Pantry? 

I wonder...

I was told, when asked about crossposting,  that it was unlikely to happen. But I did bring it up!

[+Max and 99 1680]

If I understand correctly, based on glancing at the article, a new pantry map will be released later this week. This sure muddies the categories!

 

These are strange and difficult times. We hope you're doing well. (If you're like us, you're making serious progress on your to-be-read pile!) We've noticed a wonderful trend among Little Free Library stewards these past few weeks: many are converting their little libraries into sharing boxes offering food, household items, or crafts to people in need. Are you taking part in this trend? If so, please consider filling out this form to add your location to our new sharing-box map!

Add a Location to Our Sharing Box Map Now

Please note that your sharing box does not need to be registered with a charter sign to be included on the sharing-box map. The map will debut on our website later this week and will be updated daily Monday - Friday. This map will in no way replace our standard world map; it's an additional resource to help those in need find a sharing box in their area. Be well and read on! Sincerely, Your Friends at Little Free Library P.S. Many of you have asked us for our guidance on what to do with your little library right now. While the decision is yours, if you missed our email a few weeks ago, here are our recommendations. We hope you find them helpful, and if you have questions, please do contact us.

[+Max and 99 1680]

The map is now live.

https://littlefreelibrary.org/sharing-box-map/

[+jhuoni 18]

"How long will this map be available"

"This map is a temporary resource that we will update daily, Monday – Friday, as long as necessary. It does not replace our standard world map which is always available on our website here."

 

We will have to see where this goes.  I would hate to think that every library would switch over to a pantry - both serve different needs of the people.