Colorado Springs resident Hailey Radvillas opened the Pikes Peak Little Free Pantry in front of her Westside home a little more than a year ago, and since then she’s found that the enterprise is wildly successful, to say the least.
“We have dozens of people coming by every day, some dropping off food and clothing, some taking them,” Radvillas said.
“We can’t keep it stocked for long. Items are always going to be gone by the next morning. The need is so great.”
The concept behind the Little Free Pantry is simple and to the point: Area residents, restaurants and other businesses drop off food, clothing, toiletries and various other items, and visitors can take anything they need — no questions asked.
The colorful pantry, consisting of several drawers and shelves, along with a cooler on the side, sits in front of Radvillas’ house at 516 W. Pikes Peak Ave.
It serves not only homeless people, but is open to anyone in need, including anyone being forced to choose between paying for housing or purchasing food for their families.
“We have people who drive up and get stuff and we have some neighbors who visit the pantry,” Radvillas said. “We consider this mutual aid. We’re not a nonprofit and we’re not a 501(c)(3).
“We want this to be as local as possible. We’re all taking care of each other. If you see something you need, take it.”
Radvillas and her husband, Cullom, based the Little Free Pantry concept on the Chicago Love Fridges and Denver Community Fridges programs that are aimed at reducing food insecurity and waste. The Denver program’s mission statement points out that “people in the most vulnerable circumstances know their needs best,” so no one polices how much or how often someone takes from the fridges.
“Ours is also a place you don’t have to fill out any paperwork, no one is looking at you, there are no cameras and no questions asked,” Radvillas said. “It’s 100 percent a place for sharing.”
She also noted that the Little Free Pantry is open 24/7 year-round, unlike other food giveaway programs that typically operate on daily or weekly schedules.
“We’ve been told this is so much easier,” Radvillas said, pointing to the pantry structure, which is easily accessible from the sidewalk. “You don’t have to wait for a certain day to go to the food bank or go at a certain time. The pantry is always open.”
Radvillas said that operating the pantry has been relatively free of problems, including theft and vandalism, although there have been a few minor incidents involving property damage. But all in all, it’s been running smoothly.
“We haven’t had any complaints from the neighbors and have had no problems with the city,” she said. “We just put the pantry out there, off the sidewalk and we make sure the area stays clean.
“Some people worry about theft but I’ve found that when you’re giving something, people are less likely to take what they are not supposed to take.”
One of the biggest problems, she said with a laugh, are the cardboard boxes that accumulate when people drop off food.
“We’re going to have to make a trip to the recycle center,” she said.
Numerous Colorado Springs businesses, along with concerned residents, help keep the Little Free Pantry supplied. One of the participating businesses is the nearby Cerberus Brewing Co. on Colorado Avenue.
Along with Metric Brewing, Cerberus recently offered a discount or a free beer to anyone contributing items to the pantry.
Other businesses that have contributed resources include Ladyfingers Letterpress, Creative Consortium, Chinook Center, Food to Power, Lasagna Love, Hannigan Homestead and Signs and Designs by Liz.
Individual donors also contribute to the stock of food supplies. Radvillas said a neighbor up the street brings home-cooked meals, and another who works at a bakery contributes nearly expired bread along with baked goods and snacks.
The next big thing on tap for the pantry is the addition of mini-refrigerator obtained free from the local Buy Nothing group on Facebook.
“It’s about three feet high,” Radvillas said. “We’re building a roof for it, and people will soon be able to get dairy products, premade sandwiches, frozen dinners and things like that when they’re available.”
Radvillas said she hopes the project inspires similar grassroots enterprises in other neighborhoods.
“I would love to see other people start their own free pantries on their property,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be a large structure. It can be as simple as a box if you’re really close to the sidewalk.”