The Story Behind the Little Free Pantries Appearing Everywhere

AFAR

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Transcript

00:00 You may have seen the viral news about Italy's solidarity baskets.

00:08 As the country was struggling through one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks,

00:13 residents of Naples began lowering baskets from their balconies filled with food for

00:17 those in need.

00:18 The idea was simple.

00:19 Those who can, put something in.

00:23 Those who can't, help yourself.

00:26 But you may not have seen the similar acts of individual charity that have been quietly

00:30 taking place elsewhere during these times of economic uncertainty.

00:39 Around the world, people have been creating and stocking little free pantries, filling

00:44 them with food, as well as masks, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and other essential items

00:51 for anyone who needs them.

00:53 The concept of the little free pantry isn't new.

00:56 It spun off from the popular little free library movement around 2016 and aims to address food

01:02 insecurity.

01:03 Like the libraries, which are small, watertight boxes filled with books, anyone can take from

01:09 or contribute to a little free pantry.

01:11 But lately, the little free pantry movement has expanded.

01:15 Stewards of little free libraries have begun converting their boxes into pantries, hoping

01:20 to provide some relief to essential workers, as well as neighbors facing food insecurity

01:24 these days.

01:25 The little free library organization has even mapped the converted sharing boxes.

01:30 You can find them all over the United States and Canada.

01:33 And there are also a few in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, India, and of course, Italy.

01:39 It may seem like a small gesture, but sometimes, big things really do come in little boxes.

01:45 [MUSIC]

01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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