Northshore Little Free Pantries

Neighbors helping neighbors is the guiding principle of the Little Free Pantry (LFP) movement. Not only do LFPs support neighbors facing hunger insecurity, they enrich the community by empowering people to make an immediate difference.

“Give what you can. Take what you need”

Here in Northshore, there are several LFPs up and running …

* A Little Free Pantry is set up near the driveway entrance to Northlake Lutheran Church, 6620 NE 185th Street, Kenmore. This resource is a collaboration between Common House Vineyard Christian Fellowship and Northlake Lutheran Church. There’s a Little Free Pantry located at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 16450 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, and one located on NE 196th Street, Bothell. The plans and materials list for these pantries and Common House Vineyard's first Little Free Pantry located on 120th Street in Kirkland just outside the Salisbury Court Apartments, are available. Click here for the plans. Click here for the materials list.

* On the Mini Pantry Movement website http://www.littlefreepantry.org/ navigate through the 'map' tab where you'll find information about the Northlake Lutheran Church pantry, one set up by Girl Scout Troop 45199 at 17524 199th Ave NE, Woodinville, 98077, one located at 19 199th Place SE, Bothell, one at 15209 78th Ave NE Kenmore, and one at Eastside Church, 14520 100th Ave. NE, Bothell. The pantry located in the Maywood Hills area of Bothell at 20209 108th Ave NE is no longer there.

* Not on the littlefreepantry map is the one located outside the Salisbury Court Apartments in Kirkland, one at the front door of Cottage Lake Presbyterian Church, 18350 NE Woodinville-Duvall Place, Woodinville, 98077, one in the Kingsgate area at 12911 NE 147th Pl, Woodinville, and another at 15708 119th Ave NE, Bothell.

* A Little Free Pantry plus a stand-alone Little Free Diverse Library, both stewarded by the Racial and Educational Justice Team of Kenmore Elementary PTA, are now up and running at 18118 73rd Ave NE, Kenmore, a few steps from Mary’s Place.

* A Little Free Toiletry Pantry is located at the Heatherwood Apartments at 13510 N Creek Drive, Mill Creek, 98012. A wee bit north of our usual network, this pantry offers a valuable service courtesy of a local Girl Scout Troop. Note, this pantry is for toiletries only.

Donating to a Little Free Pantry (LFP)

Little Free Pantries are a great neighborhood resource – you may have seen one and been curious – so here’s a quick guide on how you can contribute.

* as is the case with brick and mortar Food Banks, some LFPs have a ‘most needed’ list on their door to make donating easy.  If they don’t, take a peek inside the pantry to see what types of food are already there.  Important note: Please don’t donate expired, opened, damaged, frozen, defrosted, home-canned/preserved items, perishable items.

* Some LFPs have a weather/pest proof container available for donations when the pantry itself is full. Please use this if needed, or go back another day with your items.

* shelf space is limited at a Little Free Pantry (LFP) so stick with 14oz sized canned goods (soup, beans, vegetables), 1lb packages of rice, beans, etc;

* items such as bar soap, dish soap, and laundry detergent are always welcome:  small (25 fl oz, 50 fl oz containers) and unscented brands are great;

       Donating in general (especially if there is no ‘most needed’ list)

Think beyond pasta, peanut butter, and tuna.  Cooking oil, vegetable shortening, cans/cartons of broth, bags of flour (all-purpose, Masa, chickpea), sugar, salt, dried herbs, dried peppers, cartons of shelf-stable milk (regular, soy, almond, rice), cans of evaporated milk, coffee, tea … all are great options.

Want to learn more about Little Free Pantries?

The Mini Pantry Movement website (link above) is a good starting place, and for a Western Washington perspective go to https://www.thelittlefreepantries.org/