Little neighborhood food pantries

Locations📍

Brighton - In front of the mill pond bathrooms, next to the piano by the Imagination Station

Fowlerville - 114 N Second St (across the street from the laundromat) AND 515 W Grand River Ave next to Dairyville

Hartland - outside of the Senior Center entrance (door 9) at the Admin Building 9525 E. Highland Road (used to be the old high school on M-59). If you are looking at the building this is on the left side over by the sports fields. It’s a tall plastic gray closet.

Howell - outside the police station, 611 E Grand River Ave

Pinckney - outside of the police station, it is pretty small and needs a rubbermaid tote with lid to store items out of the rain (11/3)

🟣TIPS on keeping them well stocked🟣

🔹Include full meal ingredients- ex: when you donate a box of mac n cheese or cereal include a carton of shelf stable milk (at the dollar store). Peanut butter and jelly aren't helpful if you don’t have crackers or bread.

🔹Remember those with allergies- cartoned almond milk is great for lactose intolerant, gluten free is *badly needed, low sodium is important for many.

🔹Oil/butter are always needed. Sugar, flour and seasonings like onion & garlic powder, Italian and Mexican seasonings, salt & pepper (think of the ones you use most often) helpful to make basic boxed/canned stuff taste somewhat decent. Sliced bread, mayo, crackers, cereal, pasta, shelf stable milk, diced tomatoes for strews, and canned beans. Bullion cubes, broth, canned chicken, tuna in water, vienna sausage (these are all “pop tops” which is important for those who are unhoused to get protein) nuts/trail mix, chunky canned soups in *pop tops, peanut butter, jelly, *can openers* quinoa, oats/oatmeal, hot cocoa, tea, instant coffee packets. Microwaveable rice & meals help those who don’t have access to a full kitchen.

🔹Fresh produce and protein are *big needs. Note- some nights are below freezing now, don't put out produce overnight if it's going to freeze. Set that out in the morning when temps get above freezing as they will likely be grabbed up before night time.

🔹Non food items *highly asked for* toilet paper and pads/tampons are by far the biggest requests. Pet food becomes a lower priority when people can't even feed themselves. Buy big bags of cat & dog food and use it to fill gallon zip lock baggies. Label it with species and name of food. Plastic spoons/forks, dish soap, body soap, deodorant, can openers, toothpaste, diapers, wipes, SOCKS, hats, gloves, hair brushes, laundry detergent, q tips, all purpose cleaner.

Is your street pantry “well stocked’?🤔

As you look at your street pantry’s inventory ask yourself what you would need to make a meal with what’s in there- if you had no other food at home. Broth/bullion cubes, canned tomatoes & meats would allow you to make a soup with the existing canned veggies/beans/rice. Will oil or butter be required to cook the meal? Canned goods do nothing for those who have no can openers - always good to include. Are there gluten free, low sodium/diabetic friendly foods available? Is there baby food? Pet food?

⭐️Share updates with the community👀

Take a photo of your street pantry and share it in community groups. Include date/time and needs. This pic is of Fowlerville’s (by the laundromat) taken 11/4 at 10am. Great job, Howell today 👏🏽photos