It’s a little box with an important mission — to provide food to those who need it, perhaps at times when there’s no other option.
Gilmer County’s first little food pantry was put up last week near the entrance to the health department at 28 Southside Church Street.
“It’s there 24/7 for anyone that needs food,” said Allen Triebel, a volunteer and former director at the Gilmer Community Food Pantry.
The mini-pantries, or “Little Free Pantries,” are modeled after Little Free Libraries — also boxes on poles in public places, but which offer free books to passersby and opportunities for more books to be donated.
The mini-food pantry movement started in Arkansas and has since grown to include other states, noted Triebel.
There are more than 2,300 Little Free Pantries registered nationwide, almost 75 of which are in Georgia, according to the organization’s webpage. The closest ones to Gilmer County are in Rabun and Bartow.
The boxes contain shelf-stable canned and boxed food, which will be provided here by the food pantry and donations from the general public.
“If the public would like to donate shelf-stable canned or dry goods, they can put items in the box or drop them off in the pantry’s donation boxes located at 5273 Highway 52 East,” Triebel said.
Gilmer’s first little food pantry was made by Randy Steele, a volunteer at the Highway 52 food pantry.
Triebel said the box was approved by county commissioners, and it’s been placed under a covered area outside the health department that’s not in direct sunlight or rain.
He intends to have the box registered as an official Little Free Pantry, which means it will also show on the organization’s map of locations across the U.S.
“They have to approve it, first. Hopefully, they’ll respond back and say it’s OK,” Triebel said.