little free pantry

We here at Little Free Pantry don’t believe a mini pantry can be “abused.”

If a single parent “takes it all” and can, then, pay their electric bill, the mini pantry is working exactly as it should. If a person living in pervasive poverty with a scarcity mindset hoards, the mini pantry can show there is enough. If a person experiencing homelessness “takes it all” and distributes it among others, that person is doing the mini pantry movement’s work.

Finally, we can control what we do only, and we choose to give gifts willingly without expectation of “payment”— whether “good” behavior or gratitude—because we believe compassionate, generous, trusting action is the way to compassionate, generous, trusting community.

We know not all mini pantry stewards believe as we do. And that’s ok. The more types of folks a part of the work of the mini pantry movement, the more we learn about its applications in different contexts.

All stewards struggle with judgment. That struggle is part of the work. If, however, a potential steward knows they will be unable to refrain from policing-type behaviors or refraining will be a significant stressor, the mini pantry may not be a good fit. And that’s ok, too.