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The Grande Prairie Public Library (GPPL) has received a $ 10,000 grant from the Northwest Alberta Community Foundation (CNFA) to help fund its Little Free Pantry project for one more year.
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“It feels amazing, and the big ten are going to go a long way for people using the pantry,” said Tara Wiebe, GPPL’s chief customer service officer. “It’s going to change the life of the project that we can keep it running until 2022.”
Little Free Pantry is a program run by the library that supplements the less fortunate with a snack or essentials to help them get through the day.
Wiebe applied for the grant through CNFA and was able to secure the full $ 10,000 donation he was looking for. CNFA was impressed with the project’s ability to help alleviate food safety problems in the city and because it provides a sense of belonging to pantry users.
“It always feels wonderful when the community supports things that happen in the community, especially when they are supporting our vulnerable people,” said Deb Cryderman, director of GPPL.
Little Free Pantry began when Wiebe learned that similar programs were offered at other libraries.
“I thought it was such a wonderful idea. It’s been a difficult couple of years for everyone, and I know there are people who use our library regularly and who definitely need a little help, ”Wiebe said.
One of the reasons Wiebe was drawn to the project is because of the dignity and anonymity it offers to people who use the service.
“They don’t have to come and ask us, it’s just there, and they can go and get what they need,” Wiebe said.
The library will also use the money to purchase urgently needed items in bulk, such as hygiene products, socks, gloves, emergency blankets and a host of other items to help pantry users cope with the cold temperatures. .
“It will specifically help us store items that we know are high-use and that people need,” Wiebe said.
“Things like emergency blankets, gloves and things specifically for winter,” said Wiebe, “if you buy things in bulk, they can be quite expensive.”
Cryderman encourages anyone in need of something from the free little pantry to come down and use it without fear.
“You don’t have to talk to us to use it. It’s self-service, so no one should be ashamed that they’re using it, ”Cryderman said. “Just come and use it, don’t miss it if you can be with it.”
Reference-www.dailyheraldtribune.com