Teaming up with local Eagle Scout Ethan Mason Southwest, Northside, Simmons, and Uptown Libraries now have Little Free Food Pantries outside of their locations. These pantries are open 24/7 and aim to help fight food insecurity in the Kenosha Community.
The Little Food Pantries are an easy way to help to help out and are a zero barrier access point for food and hygiene items.
If you would like to contribute you can place nonperishable food, hygiene products, or paper items inside one of the pantries. Anyone who needs those items can freely take from the pantry, no questions asked.
Food Pantry Donation Suggestions
Protein-rich foods
- Canned fish - tuna, sardines, etc.
- Canned meats - Spam, chicken, deviled ham, etc.
- Canned beans
- Jerky / meat sticks
- Nuts
- Peanut butter
- Pouches of tuna
- Pre-packaged trail mix - emphasis on nuts and dried fruit over chocolate candies
- Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, etc.)
High-fiber foods
- Canned beans
- Popcorn
- Single-serve oatmeal
- Whole-grain crackers (e.g., Triscuits)
- Whole-grain tortillas
Other items
- Canned pasta
- Canned soup or chili
- Canned vegetables
- Cereal bars
- Dried fruit
- Granola bars
- Instant mashed potato pouches
- Pouches of rice
- Protein bars
- Ramen + Cup Noodles
- Shelf-stable meals (e.g., Hormel Compleats, Dinty Moore)
- Tortillas
Drinks
- Instant coffee packets
- Juice boxes
- Instant breakfast drinks (e.g., Carnation Breakfast Essentials)
- Packets of water flavoring
- Shelf-stable protein drinks
- Water bottles
Toiletries
- Bars of soap
- Deodorant
- Dish soap
- Individual rolls of toilet paper
- Laundry detergent
- Lip balm
- Lotion
- Mouthwash
- Safety razors
- Sanitary pads
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Tampons
- Tissues
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Wet wipes
Non-medicine first aid supplies
- Antibacterial wipes
- Anti-chafing products
- Band-aids
- Lip balm
- Lotion
- Moleskin
Please no:
- Disposable diapers (we take disposable diaper donations inside KPL!)
- Expired foods
- Medications or other drugs
- Perishable foods
- Takeout containers
Keep in mind:
- Grab-and-go foods are helpful for people without access to a kitchen
- High-sugar foods can be hard for people with diabetes
- Smaller containers of food and travel-size toiletries are easier to stock in our pantry