'Little Free Pantry' Joins Community Library In Bed-Stuy

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A "Little Free Pantry" prompted by the coronavirus pandemic has joined the "Little Free Library" on Hull Street.

Neighbors set up the "take what you need, leave what you can" pantry — filled with food and other necessities — next to the community library on Hull Street between Rockaway Ave and Mother Gaston Boulevard on Halloween.

It comes several months after the coronavirus pandemic sparked the idea for Julien Zeitouni, who had set up the community library two years ago.

"I heard of Little Free Pantries in the beginning of COVID as a way for neighbors to help each other," Zeitouni told Patch. "I couldn't afford to buy a Little Free Library box for it, but saw online that newspapers box have been used by individuals."

After searching for a couple months, Zeitouni said he was able to find a disregarded newspaper box to use. He cleaned, painted and added shelves and signs to the box.

The pantry is among several neighbor-led community food sources that have showed up amid the coronavirus crisis, which has spiked the number of food insecure New Yorkers, and all Americans, by the millions.

Community fridges, and another library, have also popped up on Lexington Avenue in Bed-Stuy and in Bushwick.

Check out the current contents of the Hull Street pantry here:

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.