Summary: Building and Stocking a Little Free Pantry to Combat Food Insecurity
Food insecurity has more than doubled as a result of the economic crisis brought on by COVID-19. A little free pantry is a small, weatherproof space into which the community can place food and basic hygiene supplies, that are available to anyone 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Essentially our pantry would act as a food assistance gap-filler: utilized when traditional food providers might be closed, or for those who are too ashamed to visit a community food pantry. They are also helpful for people who might not qualify for official government assistance. Rotary plans to partner with other community groups such as Boy and Girl Scout troops in order to build and maintain the pantry to make it sustainable into the future. Thus Rotary will also be encouraging grassroots organizing, building community, and fighting food insecurity simultaneously. First we will secure a location, then build the free pantry, promote it in the community, and then monitor and evaluate moving forward.
Completed
This project is "Completed". This means the project has been implemented and the report was accepted by the district leadership. The project will stay listed on this website as a testimony of the achievements of the project partners.
System Entry: Project approved by the District Approval Committee.
9-Feb-22
by Larah Alami
This is to serve as a progress report on the little free pantry as of 2/9/2022. We have secured a spot for the pantry outside the Tarrytown Village Hall. We have a wood-worker who is currently building the pantry. He is securing materials and will build a 4'x3'x2' wooden cabinet with plexiglass doors and shelving inside. We anticipate this to be finished around 3/1/2022, and then will hire a sign person to make signage. The Village of Tarrytown will install the pantry, we will fill with food and hygiene items, and then we will hopefully have a ribbon-cutting event in April. A google document will be made of all the organizations and individuals in town to monitor and fill the pantry moving forward, with our club overseeing the schedule to make sure the project is sustainable.
18-May-22
by Larah Alami
Currently the Pantry is installed, we are just waiting for the Exterior Signage to be fabricated and installed as well. Then we will have an official "grand opening" and invite the community to start filling the pantry. We anticipate the pantry project to be complete by the end of May.
30-May-22
by Larah Alami
Today the pantry is finished, complete with exterior signage. We also purchased a load of personal hygiene and food supplies to start the pantry off. We will submit invoices for the cabinet, signage, and food supplies today. Finally, we already had a news story on the pantry in our local news: https://thehudsonindependent.com/rotary-club-of-the-tarrytowns-helps-fund-new-high-school-press-box-and-donates-little-food-pantry/
23-Jun-22
by David Schribman
Project sent off to stewardship for final approval.
27-Jun-22
by David Schribman
Reminded stewardship that grant requires review.
27-Jun-22
by David Schribman
Approved by stewardship & sent off to the district treasurer for payment.
2-Sep-22
by David Chew
System Entry: Check for DDF payment issued by Foundation Treasurer.
2-Sep-22
by Mahbub Ahmad
System Entry: Project has been implemented and final report uploaded.
3-Sep-22
by Mahbub Ahmad
System Entry: Final report approved by the District Approval Committee.
