Just outside The Village Grind Espresso & Wine Bar in beautiful Wrightwood is a Little Free Pantry with food inside, open 24/7, and is always overflowing for those in need.
“Yep, that is what it is called! The Little Free Pantry” explained one of the owners of The Village Grind. After hearing about this growing community movement across the country, she realized they could help their community by placing a wood box filled with food just outside their business. “People in the community leave so much food outside now we are overflowing with items,” expressing her delight and gratitude. She hopes to get the word out that if anyone is in need, they are welcome to take what they need or leave items if they like. Her husband said people have been generous; one person even left a new bottle of wine.
The history behind this grassroots effort started on May 12, 2016, by Jessica McClard, a native of Arkansas, because one in four people in southwest Arkansas is considered to be in food poverty. She started her pantry in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and modeled it after the “Little Free Library” book sharing movement popping up all over the country where folks could exchange books. The idea took off soon after she started posting her food pantries on social media. Suddenly, pantries started appearing all over the country. Within a month, hundreds of these little pantries had shown up. Well, now Wrightwood has one locally in the community for those in need, and for those that would like to give. The pantry is located in front of the Village Grind at 6020 Park Drive in Wrightwood.
