She Put A Wooden Box Outside And Inspired Everyone To Give Back To Those In Need

When Jessica McClard of Fayetteville, Arkansas, put a wooden cupboard outside of a Lutheran church, she didn’t really know what to expect.

The avid runner and lover of books often took advantage of a Little Free Library box she passed each day. The take-a-book, leave-a-book approach is something that has been adopted in cities around the world, which got McClard thinking.

What if the same principle could be used to provide those in need with food and other essentials? She couldn’t get the idea out of her head, so she decided to go for it by building what she called a “pilot box” to test the waters.

The box was built especially for this project.

From there, McClard’s Little Free Pantry was born.

The idea is simple. She stocks the pantry with non-perishable food items and lets people take whatever they need.

Helping others has been a constant in this kind woman’s life. Over the years, she’s been a nurse, a law student, and a teacher (among other things). The desire to give back to her community in some way has followed her through every stage of life.

The best part is that it’s working. The Little Free Pantry provides locals with the food and everyday essential they and their families need. Other community members have even started pitching in and helping McClard keep it fully stocked!

To learn more about the project, be sure to check out McClard’s website. For regular updates, follow the initiative on Facebook.