01/23/2026
This is a great list of questions...and answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
❤️ How does the pantry work?
The little free pantry movement is about neighbors helping neighbors with the motto "Take what you need. Leave what you can." Our pantry is a free standing structure on our property where anyone can take items, no appointment needed, no questions asked.
❤️ How do I receive food?
You come to our home (58 Skokorat St. Seymour CT 06483), park in the parking spot labeled "Little Free Pantry Parking," and take whatever you need from the large green cabinet, little free library, and garden beds.
❤️ Do you deliver?
Unfortunately, we don't have the capacity to deliver at this time. However, because we offer no contact service, anyone can pick up food for anyone at any time.
❤️ Where can I park if the parking space is full?
If you need to, you can pull into the driveway or even on our lawn. We do request that you please DO NOT park in our neighbors' driveway. They are very supportive of the pantry, but didn't sign up for guests on their property.
❤️ What time and how often do you fill the pantry?
The times of day and frequency we fill the pantry can vary based on what donations we have available, how quickly the pantry is going empty, and how busy we are with our regular life stuff. We will typically fill the pantry at least once per day, but often will restock more than once if we have supplies available and see the shelves are getting empty. We also allow for community donations 24/7 and find that donations are placed throughout the day.
❤️ How do you know the people taking food are actually in need?
We don't. It's not our business. The whole point of the pantry is to reduce the shame and stigma associated with needing help. There is no income requirement. ANYONE can take what they need, whether that need is one time or repeated. We live in a community where the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) population- households who are working and still can't afford their basic needs- is 34% with another 5% living in poverty. We are much more concerned about the neighbors who need help and aren't getting it than anyone taking something they don't actually need. On that note, we are truly grateful to all our visitors who take items for their friends, family, and neighbors who can't come themselves.
❤️ What can I donate?
We will gladly accept donations of nonperishable (please check expiration dates), fresh produce, and bread. We also accept book donations for the Little Free Library. We kindly ask that you not leave items other than food in the pantry as we are not the best option for rehoming clothes and household items. Trinity Episcopal Church and My Sister's Place are much better alternatives.
❤️ Why do we need free pantries when we have food banks?
Little Free Pantries help fill the gaps. We have many excellent food banks in our area AND they deal with some regulations and limitations that we don't, including income guidelines and limited appointment availability. Plus, there are many families who earn too much to qualify for assistance, but still struggle to put food on the table. There are also people who qualify for help, but can't make the appointment times or are only receiving food once per month (which is typical for many food banks due to client volume). The Little Free Pantries offer a safety net to these families. They also provide a space to receive help for those individuals who are still too embarrassed or afraid to seek assistance. Often, a pantry visit and chance conversation can be the gentle nudge a person needs to reach out to our food bank for more support.
❤️ How do you keep someone from just taking everything?
We don't. Once we put food into the pantry, it isn't our business what people do with the food. We trust that the food gets to where it's needed. If someone empties the pantry, we trust they need the food- although, in almost 5 years, we have not had many occasions when the pantry has been completely emptied. What we see far more often is an endless stream of cars of visitors taking a few items. We've found the best way to keep the pantry from going completely empty is to be consistent in keeping food on the shelves. People are less inclined to take a lot if they know they can reliably get what they need.
❤️ Is it safe to have a pantry on your property?
We can't speak to all communities or neighborhoods, but can say we have had a pantry at our home for over 5.5 years and have never had an issue that made us feel unsafe or unsure about continuing. What we have experienced is an overwhelming amount of love and support from our community. The people who use the pantry are our neighbors. They are not some mysterious "other". They are educators, business owners, parents, caregivers, seniors, healthcare providers, and essential workers. They are part of our community. They all have stories and those stories matter. Any one of us could be in the position of needing help at any time. It doesn't help anyone to pretend otherwise.
❤️ Are you a nonprofit?
We aren't currently a nonprofit. We're a family who cares deeply about our neighbors and created a space for our community to show up for each other. We’ve been fortune to have hadTrinity Episcopal Church act as our fiscal sponsor when applying for past grant funding.
❤️ I'm interested in starting a pantry. Where can I begin?
Congratulations on considering the exciting adventure of becoming a pantry steward! This work is not for the faint of heart, AND it is worth the effort. If you are ready to embrace being an agent of change in your community we would love to help. Feel free to contact us with any questions. We also recommend https://www.littlefreepantry.org to learn more about the Little Free Pantry Movement and how to get started.
* please note photo is not current
