LITTLE FRONT PORCH PANTRY Little Front Porch Pantry We have two versions of the history of The Little Pourch Libary: an email from Bonnie Ash to Mary on May 17, 2020, and an article in the The Oglethorpe Echo on May 14, 2020. Both are reproduced below. [From the email by Bonnie Ash to Mary:] There's some good news. I stopped by the Front Porch Food Pantry at No. 3 Railroad Street this morning and there's tons of food and quite a bit I know that I left is gone so IT'S WORKING! Yay! I sat down this morning and prepped press for the pantry to hopefully get us in The Flagpole and Athens Banner Herald and on a site that serves as a clearing house for assistance in the Athens area, Athens Mutual Aid Network. Here's what it said: Music Venue Turns into a Food Pantry I wanted to share how an Oglethorpe county music venue has been converted to help during the COVID-19 crisis. No. 3 Railroad Street in Arnoldsville is no longer open for music and other events because of the pandemic but now its front porch is open 24/7 serving as a food pantry. Last week PBS ran a story on Little Free Libraries that are being converted into small food pantries. Seeing this I thought of the Little Library around the corner from us in Arnoldsville. I called Mary Nouri, the owner of No. 3 Railroad Street and a host site of a Little Library, and put the idea forward to her. Mary and I had met years before when she was my children's school nurse. If anyone understood the needs of local families, I knew it would be Mary. Mary and I discussed the need for the pantry and so much more. No. 3 Railroad Street's Little Library has become a source of books for the local children since the schools and regional library system closed. Instead of using the Little Library, it was decided that the front porch could serve as a 24/7 food pantry. This week we set up shelves and containers and then donated cans and paper goods from our pantries. I am pleased to say that in the few days we've been open, it's working! Donations have come in and supplies have been picked up by those in need. In addition to non-perishable food items, we are also accepting donations of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and hygiene items. Our policy is "Donate what you can. Take what you need." Located at the crossroads in Arnoldsville, a small town without a stop light, it's centrally located on the road that runs through Winterville, Arnoldsville, and Crawford. Number 3 Railroad Street is hard to miss. It's the big red building at the crossroads of Yancy Road and Arnoldsville Road. Because it's open 24/7, we feel it might be easier for some folks who may be reluctant to go to a regular food bank or just don't have time. There's no screening process, no long lines, just an old-fashioned front porch waiting for visitors to stop by. As Mary and I spoke throughout the week, she kept going back to the idea she had in starting the venue. She wanted a hub for the community to come together. For the space to have lain dormant for the past two months, it is a welcome relief to see the space being used for its intended purpose, a gathering spot serving the community. back to top [From The Oglethorpe Echo, May 14, 2020] Free food and supplies pantry on #3 Railroad porch starting this week There are numerous food banks and pantries located around the county, many of which existed before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Several local churches and organizations also offer food drives and giveaways on a regular basis to assist those in need. Since the corona virus impacte Oglethorpe County, though, other groups and indivisuals have been working to find ways the community as the number and types of needs continues to rise. This week, a new food pantry is opening in Arnoldsville to provide free food and household items to anyone who needs it, as well as offering a place for donations to be dropped off. Arnoldsville resident Bonnie Ash saw a news story just last week about "little libraries" that are being converted into free food pantries in communities. Many areas have small enclosed mini-libraries where books are available to be borrowed and returned at no cost and with no time limits, and others can donate books to the libraries as well. The Oglethorpe County School System has had several little libraries built and installed at different locations around the county just recently as a resource for students and the community at large with all libraries in the area closed due to the pandemic. There are four new libraries that have been created along with three locations already in existence. The mini-libraries are located at Stephens Post Office, Beaverdam Fire Department, Pleasant Hill Fire Department, the Vesta Flag Pole, Arnoldsville near #3 Railroad Street, The Oglethorpe County Recreation Department, and in Philomath. The collection at #3 Railroad has been in place for some time. When Ash heard about these libraries being turned into food pantry sites for those in need during this national emergency, she immediately thought of the mini-library in Arnoldsville. She contacted Mary Nouri, who owns #3 Railroad, to see if she would be willing to convert the library into a food and supply giveaway and donation site. Nouri wanted to keep the free books available, as so many are using the libraries to access books currently. Instead, she suggested a slightly different location for such an endevour. The #3 Railroad St. community center has been closed since the start of the pandemic. Nouri offered the front pourch of the building as a drop-off and pick-upsite for donations of food and other needed supplies. Starting this week, a collection of food and household items will be available on the pourch of the community center for anyone who needs it. The majority of the donations in the beginning will come from the homes of Ash and Nouri. They hope that other community members will also contributed to the cause, brining any appropriate items from their homes to b e donated or picking up additions donations when they're at the grocery store. Ash stated that any type of wood will be welcomed for the pantry, as long as it is nonperishable and does not need to be refrigerated or froozen. She said fresh produce such as bananas and potatoes could be donated, with the hope that others in need would pick them up before they started to go bad. Certain items such as lettuce would wilt or begin to rot too quickly to be left at the pantry, however, she added. In addition to food, they also welcome contributions of any and all household supplies and items, from toilet paper ("Worth its weight in gold right now!" Ash joked) to toiletries, cleaning products, and school supplies. The only things the ladies would not like to have donated is clothing, as it would take up too much space on the porch and could be affected by the weather. Shelving and plastic tubs will be set up on the porch for various donation. Ash asked that anyone dropping off items try to keep them organized with how everything is set up on the porch. There are no hours of operation with regards to the panty. Those in need can pick up items at any time, and donations can be dropped off at #3 Railroad anytime as well. Ash said, "We're depending on local folks to make this work and help each other out. Neighbors helping neighbors. Take what you need and donate what you can." Nouri said offering this food pantry is another way the the community center is trying to "expand its usefulness" to the county. She is also in the process of getting wireless internet service in place at th elocation so local residents can access the internet from the parking area as needed for school, work, and other necessary purposes. She encouraged anyone with additional ideas or suggestions of how #3 Railroad Street can assist the community to contact her. Nouri can be reached at (706) 340 1073 or by email at marynouri at bellsouth.net. back to top Modified 26 February 2021 by Glenn Galau   |   Web Design by Glenn Galau