Boy, 11, Tucks Allowance Into Bag Of Bread Donations To Help LI Needy

GREENPORT, NY — A little boy gave back in a big way this weekend, when he tucked his entire allowance, $10, into a bag of bagels and bread to be donated to the needy.

Penelope Rudder launched the first Little Free Pantry in Greenport in 2018 — those who are facing food insecurity are welcomed by donations of bread, peanut butter, canned goods, cereal, fresh produce, and more. Many Little Free Pantries now dot East End communities.

Rudder's grandson Shaine Rudder-Garber, 11, has been staying with her this week. "He has helped me every day with my pantry checks," she said. "This morning, he helped bag up bread. I noticed something extra in one — his allowance."

When she asked about the donation, her grandson told Rudder: "I love helping people. This will be good, right?"

"'Yes, sweet boy. So good,'" she told him. "Of course, I cried when I saw what he was doing. Totally from his heart."

After she regained her composure, Rudder thought maybe she should ask her grandson if he wanted her to break the $10 into $1 bills, so he could keep some.

"Then I thought, 'No. This is all him. Let the moment be exactly as it came from his heart. Let him own it. All of it. There will be other times.'"

Her grandson and his friends have watched Rudder grow the Little Free Pantry initiative, sparking a sea of donations to those who are struggling. "He and his friends know what I do. They talk about it sometimes. Shaine has helped my since he was little, sharing his snacks — wondering, too, if Legos would be good to share."

Rudder said her daughter Melissa Rudder is also very generous and helpful.

Of her grandson, Rudder added: "This was all from his heart today, 100 percent. Sweetie."