What’s a Little Free Pantry? Placed around the City of Oaks — often near schools and churches — these are free mini pantries stocked with food, toiletries + other small necessities. The concept is simple: take what you need and leave what you can.
The Little Free Pantry Movement, which launched in 2016, is fighting food insecurity in local communities by encouraging people to help their neighbors through small and intentional donations. Beyond contributing items, you can build your own little food pantry, like the brothers behind Raleigh’s Food Drive Kids nonprofit project.
Where are they?
Here are just a few to visit in Raleigh:
- Church on Morgan, 136 E. Morgan St. (Next to Marbles Kids Museum)
- The Little Groceteria, 521 W. Cabarrus St. (On the corner of S. Saunders St. + W. Cabarrus St.)
- Food Not Bombs, 1301 Hillsborough St. (On the corner of Hillsborough St. + Ashe Ave.)
- Corner Pantry, 231 Glascock St. (On the corner of Glascock St. + Watauga St.)
- Western Blvd. Presbyterian Church, 4900 Kaplan Dr. (Next to Seeds of Faith community garden + a little free library)
- Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, 2700 Avent Ferry Rd.
- The Well Fed Community Garden, 1321 Athens Dr. (Next to a little free library)
- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Ave.
Find a map of more Little Free Pantries here.
What can I donate?
Grab a can or two of beans, vegetables, or fruit from the back of your pantry. Pasta like boxed mac and cheese and ramen noodles are great choices as well. If you donate pasta sauce or applesauce, be sure they are soft-topped (avoid donating items in glass jars). Don’t forget about granola bars, peanut butter + oatmeal.
When it comes to toiletries, individually wrapped soaps, feminine products, toothbrushes, and toothpastes are useful. People are welcome to donate gloves, hats, mittens, and hand warmers, but try not to donate items — like coats — that take up too much space in the pantry. Consider donating clothes to organizations like Note in the Pocket, instead. School supplies + paper products like tissue packs are helpful, too.
Some pantries, like the Corner Pantry, have additional space for fresh produce + clothes.
