Free food pantry opens at local library

NORTH MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) -Feeding our Communities Partners and the North Mankato Taylor Library have come together to offer a free and more accessible resource for those facing food insecurity.

FOCP’s Little Pantry is located in front of the library and is a resource that anyone can take food from; no paperwork or registration required, no questions asked.

The project’s open nature is something its organizers said is one of the most important, as they hope it will erase the barrier for anyone who might be afraid to ask for help.

“Part of our mission is to erase the stigma of hunger in our community, so one thing that we believe this will do is just be a recognizable item that people can see in the community. There is hunger in the community, there is a need,” said FOCP’s Heather Bierer.

The pantry will be stocked by FOCP, with all of the food for the pantry coming from donations from the community.

Project organizers said that the location was also a key part of the equation, with the library acting as a community center bringing in those who may need the food, and the nearby Police Annex keeping the box safe.

For the Taylor Library the initiative ties directly in to their existing mission; to put the community first.

“Our community is sort of the hub of everything we do. It’s by the community for the community and that’s exactly what we do in the library here. Everything that we do is based on the community and giving them opportunities or resources that they might not have if they couldn’t come here,” said the library’s Katie Heintz.

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