By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH, Ind. – The newest Little Free Pantry is now in place on the south side of Wabash at Zion Lutheran Church, 173 Hale Drive.
The pantry is located directly in front of the church building on the west corner.
This is the third Little Free Pantry to be located in the city. Christa Stroup, who is spearheading the campaign for the pantries, told the Wabash City Council that several more could be coming to the city, and others outside the city also have expressed interest in them.
Stroup addressed the Wabash City Council on Monday, Aug. 14, to update it on how the project was progressing.
The first pantry opened at Paradise Spring Historic Park in April, and a second opened at the Wabash Elks Lodge No.471 in June.
Things have been running smoothly at the Paradise Spring site, though some minor vandalism was reported at the Elks’ pantry. Officials closed that site for about 10 days, and no problems have returned.
“The whole community seems to be receiving it well,” she told the Council. “We’ve had a lot of people beside our group who have been contributing and who have been calling and asking for other pantries to be built.”
Officials at the Dallas L. Winchester Senior Center are interested in having a pantry located there. But, before that can happen, the Wabash Board of Public Works and Safety must give its approval as the center is located on city-owned land.
In addition, Stroup said, the group may be approaching the Wabash Park Board about locating a pantry at Hanna Park.
Council member Bryan Dillon told Stroup that he follows the Little Free Pantry’s Facebook page, and he is amazed at how quickly people report the pantries are empty once they place items in them.
He wondered if enough food is being placed in them, or if people are abusing the system.
Stroup said the group could place cameras at the site, but that she isn’t interested in doing so.
“There always will be someone trying to take advantage,” she said. “I know it happens. I don’t know how often it happens.”
She said she is encouraging people not to fill the pantries completely, and to spread out the amount of items placed in them over a day or two.
“We can’t stop someone from taking advantage,” she said. “But just have to be creative and make it a little harder for those who might be taking advantage.”
The group in change of the pantry, Stroup said, has changed its name to Share. Members have met with an attorney to discuss creating a corporation, and may look into creating a not-for-profit organization.
“It just seems like surrounding parts of the county are asking to become a part of it now,” she said. “It’s a nice place to live in, knowing that we care about one another.”
Officials at Zion Lutheran Church want to thank Crystal Glass and Exteriors and Denny Creative for their donations of material and labor to build the third pantry.