Little Free Pantry, Aimed At Fighting Hunger, Dedicated With Love

GREENPORT, NY — The shelves, freshly painted and new, are stocked to the brim with staples including peanut butter, beans, cereals, applesauce, bandages, crayons, soups — all the nourishing, useful things that so many take for granted, but which, for the needy, can mean everything, and the difference between going to bed hungry.

Joining hands and hearts to bless the brand-new Little Free Pantry in Greenport, a group of neighbors and friends, as well as Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard and other village officials, celebrated a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony by the gazebo on Adams Street Thursday.

Penelope Rudder, who conceived of the idea, said the pantry is a way for neighbors to help neighbors in need; a suggested donation list of items to stock the pantry is available in English and Spanish.

Rudder began by thanking the many who came together to make the first item on her Bucket List of caring acts a reality, including former Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce, who helped to build the pantry, artist Kara Hoblin, who painted the pantry — there are words of inspiration adorning the sides and the word "love," right on top of the pantry, because love is the glue that holds the concept together, Rudder said.

Hunger knows no demographic boundaries, Rudder said, offering startling statistics: One in six Caucasian individuals suffers from hunger, one in four Latinos or black individuals often do not have enough to eat, and one in three college students often struggles to stock their cupboards with food.

But the problem, Rudder said, is often cloaked in silence and secrecy, with shame keeping dire circumstances hidden. "The scary thing about hunger is that it's anonymous," she said. The working hungry, she said, scraping together enough for rent, might go home to only a meal of toast for dinner. "If that," Rudder said.

To that end, the pantry is free, and open and available to all, with no judgment, she said.

There is even a cubby for kids, where children can donate items, to help foster an awareness of giving back even at the youngest age.

Rudder said the project has sparked a sea of interest: The newly formed Southold Lions Club has "loved this project"; she said, adding that she will be speaking to their club about the pantry, and food insecurity, in more detail and what the community can do together to help at a meeting of the group on May 17 at 7 p.m. in the Southold High School cafeteria.

Rudder said she's met with the Lions. "We will be digging more deeply into solving additional layers of this issue together," she said.

Also heartwarming, two young girls who summer in Cutchogue emailed wanting to know how to volunteer, she said. The outreach reflect a caring community eager to help. "It's a sneak peek at two of the really touching ways people from all up and down the North Fork and elsewhere have reached out to me to help," Rudder said.

The backbone of the project, she said, centers on "having deep faith in the goodness of people, building community up around it and watching all the caring interactions of neighbors spring forth. Amazing." Rudder said that she used the word "neighbors" in a global sense. Many of those reaching out, she hasn't even met yet.

Rudder, a Greenport resident, said she's long hoped to create a Little Free Pantry for those in need.

"It's just the neighborly thing to do," Rudder said — a place where those in need can go help themselves to donated essentials. The hope is to "elevate" the traditional list of staples, donating wholesome, healthy foods not packed with sugar; donations should not include expired items, she said.

A new pantry is coming soon in Mattituck, Rudder said. She added that she believes the Greenport Little Free Pantry could be the first in New York State, but said her goal is to keep going until hunger is eradicated across Suffolk County. "What if we took Suffolk County off that map?" she asked. "I think we could."

Rudder said the idea was born because she has a background in food and nutrition and is deeply interested in food justice, food waste, food insecurity — anything community and food related.

"I read about it awhile ago and thought, 'Wow! Bucket list!' This project addresses 'Minding The Gap,' which had kept me up at night wondering how I can help. It is a perfect fit. No waiting on legislation or policy change — just do it."

She said she also has her eye on several additional sites for pantries.

Her hope, Rudder said, is to stock the pantry with foods that are "thoughtful and nourishing, delicious and as high quality as possible. Share what you would like to eat. Most will have to be non-perishable; the next project on my Bucket List will address perishables," she said.

But certainly, some fresh items in season will be appreciated, Rudder said.
"Again, the concept here is 'neighbor to neighbor,'" she said.

Household items such as toilet paper, diapers, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, pet food, and children's items will be accepted. No clothes, no alcohol and nothing sharp is allowed.

Rudder said she plans to stock most of the first one and there will be a suggested stock list posted inside.

"I have had offers to help me, and I'm so very grateful. Yes, please! I feel we will have a great group of pantry partners and pals in no time. The concept is 'give and take' and so stocking will also be of an organic flavor," Rudder said.

Anyone can donate at any time and most all donations are covered by the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996, she said.

"Hunger is a 24 hour resident in every county in the U.S. The majority who are food insecure do not live in poverty. They are in The Gap. Hunger hides itself well, creates shame and embarrassment and has a devastating effect, especially on children and seniors. Well, this Pantry is a beginning — food justice is now being served! It is a safety net, dissolves all boundaries, gives anyone the opportunity to know their neighbors have something for them 24/7, no matter what, no questions asked."

Rudder said she has messages she hopes to share. "The first is I want this project to empower people to be a part of a shared, just community based around food. Food is a very unifying language when you let it be so. Secondly, please, make no assumptions. They will only lead to 'foul-up's,' as my dad used to say. Again, hunger hides itself well. Instead, have understanding. Understanding will lead to compassion and with that, good things happen. The Pantry doors will open and all will ebb and flow naturally. The third is, this is fun."

Rudder, a grandmother with a six year old grandson in Greenport and a six year old granddaughter in Brooklyn — her mom also lives in Greenport, unifying four generations — feels is it important to help those in need.

"We are all human beings and in this life together. I feel the very essence, the core of who we are is our connection to each other, our shared humanity and to help each other secure the basics. One of the great beauties of this project is that it does dissolve boundaries. It gives everyone a chance to give and take, to be part of the solution."

Rudder has a long list of community initiatives she's embarking upon, including a series of free community potluck dinners. At the most recent, she said, moved to visible tears, a woman who did not have time to sit and eat because she works multiple jobs brought a large tray of food, because she wanted to help. Another kind neighbor sent a basket of cookies, recipe included, on the ferry from Shelter Island — she, too, had to work and could not attend but wanted to share in the giving.

After all in attendance laid their hands on the pantry during a blessing, Hubbard and Rudder cut the ribbon on the pantry, and Rudder kissed the humble wooden box, bestowing upon the project the wish for a journey colored by love and caring for others.

"I hope no one in the village ever goes hungry," Hubbard said.

Patch photos by Lisa Finn.