It seems one person is clearing out anything that's put in the box. Talking to the manager of the farmers market where the box is located......I think we are just going to stock the box when the market is open only. Then folks in need will know when they can get food. The market is closed just 3 months and then we will resume when they reopen.
Our box is being filled by the peoples pantry and needs to be refilled 3 times a week. It's at our local farmers market. The market has a food stamps program as well as a children's program to add fresh fruits and veggies to go with the pantry items
Looks great!
It's almost done! The farmers market where this will be opens mid March!
Action plan:
Timeline: We have joined up with the local town farmers market and the peoples pantry to partner with this project. We have secured the location in front of the farmers market which is a main entry to our community. We will meet as needed. We have 2 builders involved so the start date really depends on when they can complete the box. The peoples pantry will be stocking the box as well as the farmers market having canned goods food drives throughout the year.
Budget: it looks like the box will run app. 250$ as the peoples pantry has had boxes recently built. If more than $500 is available we could do 2 boxes. The peoples pantry boxes are located in not as central of a location and they usually stock 500 pounds a week so we hope to really get community involvement. The local fire dept. Right across the street from the box will get enlisted to help gather food and stock shelves. The red shed the farmersarket is letting us store excess food in. It's air conditioned in summer.
Impact: it will impact the community greatly as the 4 peoples pantry boxes aren't enough and some folks find shame in lining up at a food bank. There is very much poverty in this community. The farmers market is the perfect place as community members get double their food stamps when used at the farmers market and there is a program for kids in need as well. It would be hard to know the number of people serviced, just how much is picked up might help determine this. With the people on the team, we have 2 business owners who are near the box, farmersarket manager, peoples pantry rep. Visitors center director and staff, a builder and an artist and a farmer. With this well connected group, we can reach out to all different people. With the farmers market promoting healthy eating, we hope to give healthy choices.
Location: the farmers market manager has said they have gotten permission as they had been planning on setting up a box and just hadn't done it yet.
Ah, I hate this!