Lil' Pantry of Mount Vernon

08/16/2026

The Lil' Pantry has 4 more of these calculators (new in box) if anyone needs one for school. Send me a DM so that we can arrange pickup!

08/10/2026

It’s been a discouraging week here at the Lil' Pantry, so today we’re choosing to put something different into the world: a little kindness.

A few bad moments don’t define this community. Every day, people quietly share what they have, help their neighbors, show grace, and do good things when nobody is watching.

Those are the moments worth remembering. Kind people make the world a better place.

The bad stuff can be loud. But it doesn’t have to get the last word. ❤️

08/07/2026

The Lil' Pantry is SUPER LOW on grocery bags, so the next time you go shopping, we would love your bags! We can't use the heavier bags Kroger uses for pickup orders... they're too thick to fit in our pantry bag holder. But we can always use the thin grocery store bags! Drop them on the porch at 11 Sychar anytime, day or night. Thanks so much!

08/04/2026

THESE HAVE BEEN CLAIMED!

If anyone's child in middle school, high school, or at the career center needs the required TI-30XIIS Calculator, we have two donated for this purpose (brand-new in packaging). Reach out via DM if you need one. I will edit this post to indicate when they are both picked up.

Send a message to learn more

08/04/2026

The folks at Rent-2-Own surprised us with SO many needed supplies at the Lil' Pantry today! We are VERY appreciative of their support!

Nourishing Our Neighbors. One Bag At a Time. That’s the motto of the Lil’ Pantry of Mount Vernon. Jackie and I had the pleasure of meeting the team that keeps the pantry stocked and running. This little place is truly a blessing to our community. We are so thankful to be a part of this.

07/27/2026

I have a special request. If anyone would be willing to donate some Pediasure, I could really use some at the pantry (please drop them on the porch because I am handing these to specific children when I see them, so I don't want them in the pantry). I can't go into details here, but it would be very helpful to have them on hand for some specific kids who need the extra nutritional support. Chocolate would be perfect!

07/21/2026

"But what if someone takes it ALL?"

This is the question I get more than any other about Lil' Pantry, usually said with the hushed concern of someone describing a heist movie plot.

Honestly? No.

In all the years I've run Lil' Pantry, that has happened maybe once or twice. What usually happens is that people take what they need. Some take less than they need because they're worried about leaving enough for the next person. And a surprising number of people quietly add food when they can.

But let's play out the worst-case scenario anyway: someone empties it completely. My first thought probably wouldn't be, "What a terrible person." Instead, it would be, "Good heavens. How hungry are they?"

It's a strange thing. When people imagine helping someone in need, the fear usually isn't, "What if someone goes hungry?" It's, "What if someone gets too much free food?" Apparently, we'll tolerate feeding those who are hungry only if nobody walks away with an extra can of ravioli they didn't strictly earn. Truly, a strange hill to die on: let them eat, but not too much of it.

Meanwhile, nobody polices free food anywhere else in life as aggressively as this. Do break-room doughnuts need a security detail? Should we frisk Grandma at Thanksgiving for taking a second dinner roll? We generally assume people will behave normally. Except, somehow, when the person eating might actually need the food.

Here's the thing: Lil' Pantry isn't a precision-controlled distribution system with an inventory audit. It's a small wooden box built on trust, compassion, and the mildly radical idea that feeding people matters more than monitoring them.

Could someone take advantage of it? Sure. But the goal was never to ensure that no undeserving person ever received anything. The goal is to make sure a hungry person does. [Image created by AI...and it's perfect!]

07/04/2026

Thanks to whoever made the large donation of oatmeal, soup, and more today! I only had one handful of oatmeal packets left to put out at the pantry, and they magically appeared on the porch!

06/29/2026

It's going to be a hot one this week.

Hard Knox Mutual Aid and People's Solidarity Coalition are opening a cooling center at SCRAPS Community Studio.

Free cold water, popsicles, A/C, and a shaded place to rest. No cost, no questions. Come in, cool off, bring a neighbor.

This is something simple we can do for each other. When it's this hot, a bottle of water and a place to sit down can go a long way.

📍 SCRAPS Community Studio, 300 Tilden Ave. Ste. 6, Mount Vernon

🗓️ Tues 6/30: 12–6 | Wed 7/1: 12–9 | Thurs 7/2: 12–9
Volunteers and donations welcome. Questions: [email protected]

Details and RSVP on the event page below. Share it around.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1VVhmFQZyN/

P.S. Our goal is to create opportunities to collaborate with other organizations that would like to help for the benefit of the community. If you would like to help, feel free to reach out or show up!

06/27/2026

Small acts of kindness make a difference!