West Hartford resident Kelin Morris is hoping to have five ‘Little Free Food Pantries’ installed in West Hartford later this year.

Kelin Morris. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

There are already more than a dozen Little Free Libraries in West Hartford – small wooden structures where people can take a book or leave a book, all on the honor system – and as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award, Watkinson School senior Kelin Morris is hoping to extend the same concept to food.

The Gold Award is the Girl Scout’s top designation, the equivalent of Eagle Scout for Boy Scouts, and requires a completion of a project that solves a community problem.

Kelin, 18, is involved with the Model UN at Watkinson, and said that her first Gold Award project idea was to create a Model UN club for Hartford students, but when she began exploring the logistics, transportation proved to be too big a hurdle.

Her mom came across a video on Facebook about a Little Free Food Pantry somewhere else in the country, and Kelin immediately was hooked on the idea. “It’s much more in line with my interests in food and security,” she said.

Giving back to the community is something that Kelin has been doing for years. A Girl Scout since age 5, in sixth grade she was living in North Carolina and had the idea, which she saw through to fruition, of throwing a birthday party for homeless children who otherwise might not celebrate their birthdays. She then moved to Boston, where she held a coat drive for needy people.

Kelin posted the following message on the Neighbors and Friends in West Hartford Facebook page on Aug. 29, and was hoping her idea about the Little Free Food Pantry would be well-received.

“My Gold Award project will consist of building a Little Free Food Pantry, which is modeled after the Little Free Library. Instead of books, the LFP will hold items such as non-perishable foods like canned food and proteins, personal care items, and paper goods. Food insecurity is a huge issue within the West Hartford and Hartford communities and I hope that my project will hopefully eradicate some of these issues in addition to the existing food banks and food pantries in the area.”

To date there have been 176 “Likes” on the post, and 58 comments. Although some people question how the honor system would work, and whether or not the food would be safe to eat after being outside in extreme temperatures, the overwhelming reaction to her idea has been positive.

More than 35 people have already offered to donate, and two men in the community with carpentry skills have already volunteered to build the structures, Kelin said.

Over Labor Day weekend Kelin and her mom went around West Hartford checking out the locations that had been suggested on Facebook. She has determined that it’s important to have the pantries close to bus stops, and thinks churches and synagogues that are in areas where there is good foot traffic would be ideal sites. Somewhere in the Hillcrest neighborhood was also mentioned as a good spot.

Kelin said she already has plans to meet with the pastor at St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is located on Farmington Avenue at Prospect Avenue. St. John’s is working to start a community garden, and adding a Little Free Food Pantry might be a good complement, she said.

Kelin has already been in touch with Mayor Shari Cantor, and will also be working with town administrators to ensure that she doesn’t violate any zoning ordinances. From what she understands thus far, the structures won’t be a problem as long as they are on private property.

Kelin has submitted her paperwork, and is hoping that the project will be officially approved for her Gold Award. She’s also hoping that the builders will be able to get started on the construction soon, and she is working to finalize the design. “I want the design to be eye-catching, and want all to be the same color,” she said.

Until she leaves for college next fall, Kelin plans to also hold food drives and will take on the responsibility of stocking the pantries. She’s also raising funds to cover the building costs. Two local Girl Scout troops in West Hartford have already agreed to stock the pantries when she leaves for college, and of course the community is also welcome to add non-perishable food at any time.

“I’m really so appreciative to all of the outreach I’ve gotten from just that initial Facebook post,” Kelin said. “I am super grateful that people are so supportive of it.”

Anyone who wants more information or is interested in helping Kelin Morris make Little Free Food Pantries a reality in West Hartford can Like her Little Free Food Pantry Facebook page by clicking here.

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