The Suburban Times

A community bulletin board for Western Pierce County.

First Little Free Pantry installed in Lakewood

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The Rotary Club of Lakewood cut the ribbon on a Free Little Pantry at Lakewood Presbyterian Church on December 23.

“Little Free Pantries not only support neighbors who are facing food insecurity but also build micro-communities. They empower people to make immediate change toward their neighborhood. By way of neighbors helping neighbors and the stocking of Little Free Pantries, micro-communities form around this pillar and in turn connect neighbors who otherwise would not have met.  Find a location nearest you and form community.”

Lakewood Rotarians Mark Edgecomb (left), Bob Zawilski (with scissors), and Barlow Buescher (Lakewood Presbyterian’s Pastor) cut the ribbon a Little Free Pantry.

Rotarian Bob Zawilski was the driving force behind this project. “Ultimately, we’d like to have one Little Free Pantry in all of Lakewood’s 10 communities,” said Zawilski. UPDATE: In a follow-up chat with Zawilski, he notes the 10 communities is a bit of a fuzzy number. Zawilski cites city-data.com, neighborhoodscout.com, and nextdoor.com as sources of geographically aligned communities within the city of Lakewood.

All Little Free Pantries require a steady stream of non-perishable food. Care to help?

How can the community help? Non-perishable food will be a constant need. Lakewood Presbyterian will serve as the host and maintainer of this pantry. The church can be reached at 253-584-0900 or at 8601 104th St SW in Lakewood.

This box was produced and donated by Building Beyond the Walls. 

If you’d like to work with Lakewood Rotary to put a Little Free Pantry in your neighborhood, email Bob Zawilski.

Comments

  1. I really love the idea of the pantry I volunteer at Fiercest Methodist church I stock the pantry Tuesday with food that church gets thru donations and food bank. We have a team of 2 people that stock the pantry everyday of the week, it really does great.

  2. Springbrook Park also has a bulletin board/pantry that was an Eagle Scout project that has been up a year.

    • Laura, not certain where ten is a fixed number. It depends one who is drawing the lines/names. Some, but not all, are: Oakbrook, Lake City, Ponders, Lakeview, Clinton Park, Wordsworth, Tillicum/Woodbrook,Springbrook, Gravelly Lake, Clover Park, North Lakewood, and the International District and Towne Center areas.

    • As Mike B notes (and Bob Zawilski agrees), the 10 communities is a bit fuzzy. Bottom line, Zawilski (and others) see smaller communities in Lakewood. An update to the story includes, “UPDATE: In a follow-up chat with Zawilski, he notes the 10 communities is a bit of a fuzzy number. Zawilski cites city-data.com, neighborhoodscout.com, and nextdoor.com as sources of geographically aligned communities within the city of Lakewood.”

  4. This is Fantastic ! I work with Springbrook Connections to help fill the one in Springbrook Park. This has been a blessing for our neighborhood. I am happy to see the idea spread through out Lakewood.