Little Free Food Pantry Opens at Simsbury Public Library
- John Fitts
- Aug 1
- 5 min read
By John Fitts
Editor
In recent years, Simsbury Public Library has greatly expanded its outreach and now, thanks to the initiative of a local middle schooler, a Little Free Food Pantry is open at the facility.
It started in the spring when J.J. Hanrahan, then a 7th grader at Henry James Memorial School, was contemplating a project for the school’s Global Citizen Challenge.
“I was trying to think of a project that would be both attainable and also make a big impact on the community,” Hanrahan said.
“When thinking back on what to do, I reflected on some past experiences and one of the churches I used to go to had a food pantry outside that they had built and I remembered that – going there and dropping off food and seeing as the food was added and emptied and I just thought that was really cool,” the rising 8th grader added. “So, I thought that would be a fun project to do to help the community and those in need. And I thought the library would be a good place because the library is an awesome place. I love the library and it’s also a great community hub. People can come here and use the café; they can check out books; they can relax on the chairs. A lot of people come here.
So, I thought if I placed it here it would attract a lot of attention.”
J.J. first approached Teen Services Librarian Mary N.S. Richardson, who passed along the idea to Library Director Lisa Miceli.
From there, J.J. held meetings, sometimes with Miceli, with several town employees including Community Social Worker Rachael Loveland and Director of Public Works Tom Roy. He also learned that he needed the approval of the library board, whose schedule didn’t align well with the project due date, leading to a little bit of juggling.
“He did a great job navigating it with us,” Miceli said, adding that she and J.J. send their thanks to the library board, The Town Manager’s Office, Roy and the Public Works Department, and the Community and Social Services Department.
While J.J. learned town projects don’t happen overnight, he also picked up valuable insight and some ideas to help the venture. Town officials and J.J., for example, decided to place the cabinet inside to avoid issues with weather and bears.
In another example, town officials helped J.J. move away from the initial idea of a home-built cabinet.
“The Little Food Pantry was a great little project, and I was glad Public Works could help,” Roy said.
“We are good at taking concepts and helping find the best way forward – in this case modifying an easy to purchase and build Ikea cabinet vs. building something from scratch.”
After a unanimous vote of the library board – which was treated to J.J.’s comprehensive power point presentation - and approval by the town manager’s office, J.J. held a neighborhood lemonade stand and raised $207, enough to fund the cabinet and purchase $78 worth of food stock the pantry.
“This just goes to show what a giving and generous community we have here in Connecticut,” J.J. said of the support for his lemonade stand. “What touched my heart the most was when one of the neighborhood kids, who was only 7 years old, donated 10 dollars right out of his own piggy bank.”
With the help of Public Works, which built a base for the cabinet, the pantry was operational in the library’s upper level by late June. The pantry is initially approved for a one-year trial period. Based on initial interest, it seems to be a real asset to the community.
“It’s doing pretty well,” Miceli said. “People are finding out about it.”
The theme for Little Free Food Pantries is similar that of Little Free Libraries that have popped up around the country. As it says on the fliers J.J. has been busy hanging up around town: “Take What you need, leave what you can. Donate to help a neighbor.”
Accepted items are non-perishable items such as pasta, rice, grains, peanut butter, canned soups and vegetables, instant meals, cereal boxes and seasonings and spices.
“I was excited about this project because the library is always looking for ways to support the community in ways that it needs to be supported and we know that since COVID and in the past little while, the need for food and support has increased and the library is open 64 hours a week,” said Miceli.
She noted the project coincided with the library’s summer reading Program “Simsbury Shines: Summer Giving,” which has included a non-food item drive for items such as toiletries, household cleaning products, and paper goods for the Food Pantry that Simsbury’s Community and Social Services Department maintains at First Church of Christ, Simsbury.
There were 994 visits to the Town’s Food Pantry last fiscal year and 150 registered households utilizing it, Loveland said, adding that the numbers were similar in the prior year.
Food distribution for qualifying residents is held once a month and the Community and Social Services Department also works with other partners on additional initiatives to help fill the gaps.
The department is thrilled that the Little Free Food Pantry is now offering another avenue.
“It’s exciting to bring another resource to folks to help fight food insecurity,” Loveland said, adding that food drives are a common and welcome project. “It was kind of nice to see J.J. do something a little bit different and something a little more long lasting.”
Loveland also said the Little Free Food Pantry is also a great tool to raise awareness about the issue in general and information about the town’s social services is readily available at the library.
“Our library has such amazing programs and lots of foot traffic and they really hit every generation in every age group, every socioeconomic status,” Loveland said. “So, it brings a little bit more awareness, I think, to our community.”
J.J. and his family have lived in town approximately four years after stints in Vermont and Texas.
J.J. said he was impressed first by his neighbors and then the entire community.
“I just want to say how grateful I am to get to grow up in this wonderful community and thank everyone who made this project possible,” J.J. said. “The whole reason I kind of did this project was to give back to the community that has given me so much.” VL