Happy Birthday from a Kind Kid

I have said it before and I will say it again:  KIND KIDS GIVE ME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

We get a lot of messages at Kindness Activist.  Things pop in every day.  Messages like:

“I have a 6 foot sofa, do you know anyone who might need it?”*

and “I lost my job and am having a really hard time, would it be possible to get some shampoo and soap?”**

and “We love what you are doing.  Thanks for making the world a kinder place”***

and “My child needs 27 volunteer hours by next Tuesday, can you help?”****

and “Is Kindness Activist a 501c3?  If so, I would love to donate and will use it as a deduction on my taxes”.*****

But we recently got a fun message, one that doesn’t pop in often.  It came from a mother and said, “Good afternoon Susan!  My 4-year-old wanted to make birthday cake kits for others for his birthday. We made 20 kits, which include everything you need for a celebration. They have: cake mix, icing, sprinkles, candles, forks, plates, vegetable oil, and a birthday card. Is this something the kindness house would be willing to share with others in our neighborhood?  If not, we can give them to food for others but wanted to check with you first.”

Isn’t that so sweet?  It turns out that J turned 4 in June, and instead of gifts, his family asked friends to bring items for birthday cake kits!  After collecting, they went to the store and he picked out all the extra things needed.  And guess what?  J met his goal of making 20 kits!

I mean come on.  How many kids would forego birthday presents for themselves to help make someone else’s birthday better???

J, you are a KIND KID.  We so appreciate you thinking of the “kindness house” and the guests of the Little Yellow Free Pantry.  Because of YOU, 20 people are going to have better birthdays (complete with candles and a card!).  You are making the world a kinder place (and at the same time, giving me hope for the future).

Kind kids are where it’s at.  Kids get it.  They know what kindness is about.

And the kind kids will soon grow up to be lawyers and teachers and doctors and electricians and soccer players and company owners and entrepreneurs and baristas…

And LEADERS. 

May the kind kids grow up to be the leaders that we need to make the country (and the world) a kinder place.

P.S. – we have enough cake kits for the rest of the summer thanks to J.

(Answers to the messages referenced above)

*We are not currently accepting donations for a Kindness Sale, but every once in a while we do help items find their way to people in need.  And when we can’t, we refer donors to other local organizations.  But please contact us and ASK, do not just drop items off without checking (unless they are for the pantry).

**”Yes!  We would be happy to give you some shampoo and soap. Do you want bar soap or body wash?  Need any toothpaste?  Deodorant?  Sorry about your job. Times are tough for a lot of people right now.  You are not alone.”

***”Thanks so much!  We really appreciate you taking the time to reach out and tell us that.  Your email made us super happy.”

****Unfortunately, we get this request a LOT. The problem with it is: the request usually comes from the parent, not the child who actually “needs the volunteer hours”.  And the requests often come very last minute.  We love working with young volunteers, but really prefer the child to ask us, and we need to plan in advance so often cannot accommodate these requests last minute.

*****”Why yes we ARE a 501c3, and as such, your donation is tax deductible!  We appreciate your support of our mission, and ensure that the funds you give will be used to spread kindness. Our email is kindnessactivist@gmail.com if you have any questions.”

 

Happy 5th Birthday Little Yellow Free Pantry!

Who could have imagined that 5 years ago, when we cut the ribbon and opened the Little Yellow Free Pantry, it would become the symbol of COMMUNITY that it is today.  I for one would not have predicted how big this labor of love would grow.

In those first weeks the pantry was open, no one came.  No one knew the resource was available.  Cans of peaches and boxes of cereal would stay on the shelves a few days before finding their way to a new home.

We put up signs, oh did we put up signs.  We had signs in several languages asking people if they were hungry, explaining we had free groceries.  We hung signs all along our fence and at the local bus stops.

But still, few people came.  No one knew.

Then slowly, somehow, the word started to get out.  And magically, guests began to come.

And they haven’t stopped since.

I often say that people come to use the pantry 24 hours a day.  That may sound like an exaggeration, but it is not.  People come at 1 am after finishing a late-night shift.  People come at 7 am on their way to work or school.  People come at 3 pm for an afternoon snack.  People come at 6 pm to get food to make dinner for their families.

And the donations – donations for the pantry arrive 24 hours a day, too.  Often when I wake up and check the donation bin on the porch before work, there are new items in it.  Amazon and Costco deliveries come almost every day. 

It is hard to explain what the pantry means.

Of course, it is a resource for food.  That is the obvious.  But it is so much more.

It is a place for friendship.  It is a place for community.  It is a place for gratitude and acceptance.  It is a place for diversity.  It is a place for caring and a place for kindness.

I will be honest - 25-year-old me didn’t picture 60-year-old me sitting on my front porch steps chatting and serving a hot meal to someone experiencing homeless.  Or knowing how a guest who rents a room nearby likes his coffee and running down to make him a hot cup on a cold day.  Or talking with people who live in their cars or at the shelter or in a house that holds multiple generations of family. 

We have met so many amazing people through the pantry.  There’s “lentil man” – big surprise, he loves lentils.  There’s the little baby who has come to the pantry her whole life – first strapped onto her mamma’s back with a colorful cloth, then in a stroller, now walking on her own.  There’s the person who won’t take any money we offer, but happily sat with us on Christmas day just talking for an hour. 

And the donors.  The donors are amazing.  If you follow our stories, you know about E.A. Raven, the patron saint of the LYFP.  But you might not know about Pat Walkup, who donates bag after bag after bag of nutritious, tasty food.  And Whitney Engstrom, who kept sending food even after she moved to Hawaii.  And the kind person who set up an Amazon subscription to shelf stable Almond Milk to be delivered.  And “snack man” – who walks to the pantry on a break from work and fills it with perfectly arranged treats.  There are also the people who get food from the pantry, and also bring what they have to share what they can so that others might eat, too.  There’s Duffy who bakes amazing cookies to share.  The Girl Scout troops who keep us stocked in cookies.  And the many, many others who donate so much to keep the pantry alive.

And the Pantry Crew – the small but mighty group of amazing humans who keep the pantry running when we can’t.  And Danyi – who has spent HOURS breaking down boxes from donations to prepare them for recycling and cheerfully greeting guests and donors.  And the sweet people who seal bag after bag of rice and beans.  And the kind family who pours oil into jar after jar, so that donations of big jugs can help many families cook.

To most people it looks small.  After all, it is just 2 little shelves.  But those shelves feed a community.  Over $87,000 worth of food is donated and given away every year here.

But to me, even more important than the food is the people.

People who come to the LYFP get more than nutrition. 

They get respect.  And variety.  And a listening ear if they want to talk. 

That little box has changed lives.  Lives of donors.  Lives of guests.  And most certainly my life.

Happy birthday LYFP.  Here’s to many more.

One Can of Sardines

As 2025 comes to a close, I am thinking of kindness.  Of so much kindness that I was honored to receive, witness, and do this year.

More specifically, I am thinking of the small acts of kindness.  The ones that are easy to overlook.  But if we squint – if we take time to notice them – they are actually changing the world.

I would like to tell the story of one of those small acts of kindness.  One that, most definitely, changed a life.

We have a dear friend that we first met through the Little Yellow Free Pantry.  She was a pantry guest and now has become a very valued volunteer who puts in many hours supporting our organization.  She has explained to us many times how the food from the pantry saved her life.  She had nothing to eat, and chance brought her to the “yellow box” as she likes to call it.  She wrote to me, “I still remember when the feeling of hunger repeatedly led me to your yellow food box, and feeling the peace of mind after receiving food. I have also seen many visitors with thin faces eagerly walk towards your food box, feeling the joy after receiving food.”  She knows the feeling, and can now witness it in others.

She, like many people in our area, is an immigrant.  I find such beauty seeing her experience life in America thru “new eyes”.  So many things she witnesses through her volunteer work with Kindness Activist are firsts for her.  Christmas caroling – oh, that was so fun to see her discover.  “I thought this was only in MOVIES, but it is real!  We sing!  All together, we sing for neighbors.  Such beauty!”. 

And giving warm clothing to strangers.  She first saw the winter gear displayed in front of our home and benefited from it.  She needed warm clothes and felt so fortunate to receive them.  But now, a couple of years later, now she not only receives the much-needed clothing, but she shares it, too.  I have seen her quite literally give a stranger the shirt or coat off her back.  The gloves off her cold hands.  She wrote to me, “We supply clothes for the unknown, and supply winter clothing.  People get hats, scarf, gloves, hand warmer.  They stand in the snow, the smiling on their faces no money can buy.  That was real smiling from their heart and every cell, kindness is not only a word in America, it is a real life here.”

Small acts.  Not flashy.  Not newsworthy.  Tiny acts of kindness that create ripples.  Ripples that are spreading, creating even more kindness.

For a long time, this friend basically survived on canned sardines from the Little Yellow Free Pantry.  They nourished her, and she ate tin after tin of them.  One time when she was at our home volunteering, a delightfully kind neighbor, Gary, walked up with a donation:  tins of sardines.

I called for our friend to come meet this donor.  I introduced them.  And oh – her smile.  It was brighter than the sunshine that afternoon.  “This man,” I explained, “This man is bringing sardines to help fill the pantry.”

She was so grateful.  She thanked him profusely and explained the story of how she had survived on the same exact food from the same exact source.

The two have now become friends.  The donor and the recipient, both thankful for one another.  He helped arrange an art show for her which fueled her creativity and her soul. 

One afternoon recently I came home to find this volunteer working hard on our porch as she so often does.  We had a long chat, and then she told me, “Today, I brought something for the yellow food box.  I brought what Gary brought.  I brought what helped me live.  I brought a can of sardines.  It is only one can, I do not have much.  But I am thankful for Gary, for the food box, for the sardines.  So, I share the sardines.”

Small acts of kindness.

Small, but life changing.

Making a difference in the world.

Making it a kinder place.

One winter coat.  One cup of cocoa.  One gift from Santa.

And one tin of sardines at a time.

Happy holidays to all.  May 2026 bring peace, joy, and kindness.  May we keep our eyes and our hearts open and notice even the small acts of kindness.  For it is those acts that will change the world.

World Kindness Day 2025

Well, World Kindness Day was this week.

And people. It.  Was.  Spectacular.

I went into it not feeling my best.  Last weekend I had a 24-hour bug, and I still have a cold that just will not go away.  So, my nose was running, I had a cough, but y’all, I could not let that get in the way of this holiday.  I mean, come on, it only rolls around once a year, right?  So, it was a “fill your fanny pack with Kleenex, put on your Kind is Cool hoodie, and let’s roll!” kind of day.

First up – put the big sign out.  I loved the artwork this year and was very excited to display it.  There was a prompt asking passersby to leave a note saying how they would make the world a kinder place.  We got some sweet ones, including this:

If I see somebody being left out I will talk to them or invite them to join me.

Sign encouraging passersby to leave notes

Next – GIFT CARDS!  We had 25 gift cards, 5 each to:  Home Depot, grocery stores (Safeway, Giant, and Trader Joes), and Starbucks.  Kind neighbor Christy rang our doorbell at exactly 10 am, the time we had set for meeting.  I wasn’t quite ready but that worked – she had time to add her note to the board!  10:05 am and off we went to find CONSTRUCTION WORKERS!

But first – a stop at the high school down the street, the Career Center.  That was Christy’s idea.  You see, very recently she was out jogging and got hit by a car! Not to worry – she is ok.  The car was going very slowly, but it hit her and then KEPT GOING.  Grrrrrr.  That is not legal or kind, nor is it the “Arlington way”.  But here is the kind part:  a teacher from the Career Center saw what had happened and rushed over to talk to Christy and make sure she was ok.  He had been sweet to her, and now we were going to return the favor by giving him a gift card and wishing him a happy World Kindness Day.

Only one glitch…  She only knew his first name…

That’s ok – we knew we could find him!

We got buzzed into the school and while we were waiting for the receptionist to get to us, another employee asked what we needed. 

“We are looking for a teacher here.  We have a present for him.  His name is Jason,” Christy explained.

“OH!  Jason the PE teacher??”.

YESSSSSSSSSS – that’s him!! 

Got it in one try!!  Just a couple of minutes later there came Jason.  As soon as he saw Christy he seemed to recognize her. 

“Hey!  How ARE YOU??” he asked.

She explained that she was well and why we were stopping by.  He was very happy to get a gift card, a bag of candy, and a postcard of the World Kindness Day art.  And I think he was even happier that Christy had taken the time to come to say hello and that he could see her healthy and not shook up – the opposite of the day that they met a couple of weeks ago.

Since the library was next door, we decided to pop in there.  We handed out bags of candy quietly (it’s a LIBRARY, you have to be quiet 😊 ), and as we were ready to leave I noticed a woman at a corner table on her phone.  We approached her and held out a bag of candy.  I could see she was crying.  Maybe she was having a bad day, maybe she had just gotten bad news on the phone, I don’t know.  But I DO KNOW that I have been the person crying in public before.  I have cried walking down grocery store aisles.  I have cried in airports.  I have cried in coffee shops.  And I have had the experience of people seeing me – people NOTICING my tears – and making a conscious decision to pretend they didn’t see.  I decided years ago that any time I see a person crying in public, I will not look away.  I won’t pretend it is not happening.  I will acknowledge the sadness and pain.  I will relate.  So, I quietly asked, “May I give you a hug?” and her eyes said, “Yes, please.”  Christy also gave her a hug.  I hope that the hugs and the candy helped her day get a bit better.

Next we headed out to find construction workers, which is an easy task in our neighborhood since they are building a huge new high school and there is major road construction on Columbia Pike.  Each time we saw a construction worker we approached with a handful of gift cards and gave them their choice.  It was so fun!!  They were happy and thankful (and also loved the candy bags).

Take a quick break from work for KINDNESS.

Happy construction workers. They have been doing construction on "The Pike" for a very long time and I am sure get many complaints from angry drivers for the delays. 
It was fun to THANK THEM for their hard work.

It took us about an hour to hand out 25 gift cards.  As we walked back, we handed out the rest of the candy bags in our basket.  We passed the local grocery store as a woman was coming out with her cart.  “Hey, that was nice what you did.  Giving gift cards to construction workers – that was really kind,” she said.

What a perfect example of how kindness affects more than just the person receiving it!  It affects the person GIVING the kindness (in this case, Christy and I). And it even affects the person WITNESSING the kind act.  We had no idea that anyone was watching or noticing us as we talked to the construction crew.  But not only were they watching, they were being inspired to go out into the world and spread kindness, too.

It was a great day to be outside in the sunshine (even though I was not feeling 100%).  I spent some time painting new chairs for the upcoming Santa Project and working on things for the Little Yellow Free Pantry, and then it was time for the next event – A BRIDGE BRIGADE!

I had never been able to join a bridge brigade before but I love when I drive under them.  What happens is:  people stand on an overpass and hold huge letters up to spell something out.  Drivers passing by can read the message and honk approval.  I had been on the driving by side, but never on the holding signs side. 

But all that changed on World Kindness Day!!

We met up at 3:30 pm and got to work.  Our letters spelled JUST BE KIND.  One person also made a cute heart to add to the display.  It was so fun!!  Each time a car honked it gave us more energy!!  We got waves!  We got headlights flashed!  It was fabulous!!

JUST BE KIND! When we started, we didn't have quite enough people to hold the letters but we
made do!

This is what a bridge brigade looks like from behind :) 

We also had a basket of candy bags to hand out to people walking by and stopped in cars.  I tried that task for a while but after a few rejections I gave up.  But Charlotte, oh Charlotte was NOT afraid of the rejections!  While we held letters and waved at cars whizzing by underneath us, Charlotte handed out candy bags to cars stopped at the red lights. 

Bridge Brigade crew hard at work (that's Charlotte with the big heart - literally and figuratively)

“Hey, I got a $10 donation!!” she reported as she handed over the money.  “And only ONE PERSON flipped me off!” she said (as if that was a good thing 😊 ). 

We stayed until the sun set and it got chilly.  By then I was feeling pretty crappy.  I had been going, going, going all day and my energy was zapped.  My nose was runnier and my cough was worse.  But we had one more task for the day – a run to the grocery store.  I still had the basket of candy bags in the car, so after we were done getting what we needed, my partner David suggested we take candy back in and hand it out to the Trader Joe’s staff.  What a great idea!!

We walked around giving each employee a bag of candy and a World Kindness Day postcard.  It made them so happy! 

“Hey, you were kind to us, we want to be kind to YOU!” two employees said as they handed us a bouquet of flowers. 

Kindness begets kindness.  Kindness ripples.  They are everywhere!

World Kindness Day.  A day set aside to remind us all that being kind is important.  It is needed.  It is imperative. 

I like to think that everyday is “World Kindness Day” at the Big Yellow House.  But even so, it is good to have one special day marked on the calendar.  So, MARK YOUR CALENDARS, friends.  November 13, 2026 will be World Kindness Day again.  Let’s celebrate it together.

P.S. – As I was writing this, someone knocked very quietly on our front door.  I answered it even though I am still dressed in my red flannel pajamas and saw someone I didn’t recognize was standing on our porch. 

“Good morning, can I help you?” I asked.

“Hi.  Yes…  Ummm, I am new to Arlington.  I lived in DC but just came here.  I am a substance abuse counselor.  Just got myself a job here.  But I need some food,” they said, standing next to a wagon full of amazing donations that someone left on our porch while I was still sleeping.

I welcomed them to Arlington and asked about food likes, dislikes, allergies, how many people needed to eat, etc.  I learned that the person did not have housing yet but did have a vehicle.  “Got a can opener??” I questioned. 

“Nope.”

“Go into 7-11 and use the microwave?” I clarified.

“Yes ma’am.”

“I got you,” I told them.  “And hey – do you want hot chocolate or coffee??”.

They sat on the porch as I ran down to gather food.  Because we have had so many donations lately, it was easy to find super tasty options.  I came back out to the porch with a basket so overflowing that I had to get a back-up basket.  They gasped when they saw how much food there was.

“Here.  You look through this while I make the hot chocolate,” I told them.  “Whatever you want - put in this bag.  What you do not want leave in a pile here.”

Oh, my goodness they were happy.  Thankful for the hot chocolate.  Grateful for the food.  Happy to get deodorant, wipes, and lotion.  And a can opener.

“You don’t want this RICE?  Don’t like rice??” I asked when I saw the cups of rice in the “do not take” pile.

 

“No ma’am, I do like rice.  But how would I COOK it?” they asked.

“IT IS COOKED!” I told them excitedly.  “You can heat it and eat it right out of the cup, or you can just eat it cold!  Hey – this pasta is already cooked, too!” I showed them.  With this new information that the items were pre-cooked, they decided to take them.

“But how will I EAT it?” they wondered out loud.  “I don’t have a bowl… I will figure it out.”

“Wait!  I have that!  We got it for another guest but they haven’t come for it yet.  Let me grab it.”  And with that, they now have a plate, cup, bowl, and 2 dishtowels that we had grabbed at Ikea.

I asked how they had found us.  “Well, I needed food.  So I decided to ask my phone.  And it showed me THE YELLOW HOUSE and said I was only 5 minutes from here,” they explained.

“Ahhh, you found us online!  You know, we tried to keep it quiet and not get online…  We are really busy and have a lot of people coming and we didn’t want tooooo many people to find us.  But hey – someone put us online and now we have 5-star reviews!” I laughed.  Seriously though, we have 5-star reviews!

I showed them the pantry (which they had walked right past to get to our front door but hadn’t noticed).  I explained that they could come anytime day or night, and that the system is to take what you need and leave enough to share with others.  “We all have to take care of one another,” I said.

“Yes ma’am.  Yes, we do.”

This person is a substance abuse counselor.  Had a good job in DC, but lost it when the administration cut funding for vital programming.  Now they are starting over.

“Thanks for your work,” I told them.  “I have loved ones who have addictions.  What you do is important.”

“Thank YOU,” they said. 

“You are welcome here anytime.  Keep coming back.” 

Kindness Activist funds used for World Kindness Day 2025: $272.70

Kindness Activist funds raised in a totally unexpected donation:  $10

Hearts warmed by kindness spread - too many to count

Kindness Activist Volunteer Series - TERESA

This is the first in a series of interviews with Kindness Activist volunteers.  Without volunteers, our work would not be possible.  We are so grateful for each and every person who gives of their time and talent so that kindness ripples can be spread!

First up – TERESA.

Teresa has helped with many, many Kindness Activist events.  She joins the annual “elf brigade” and wraps many, many beautiful gifts for the Santa Project.  She helps out at all of the fundraising sales (when she is in town, and she is always sad if a sale happens when she is off exploring the world).  She knits beautiful hats for Project Warmth.  And much more!  But today, we are going to talk with her about a very important volunteer role she holds at Kindness Activist – PANTRY CREW!  She and I took time out from sorting donations and sat down to have a conversation recently.

Teresa reminded me that in the beginning, she worked with another very kind woman, Julia, to sort and organize pantry donations.  “We did a purge of all of the expired foods.  Then we labeled the shelves and bins so that it was a little more orderly,” she explained.  “We marked on every single box on the shelves the expiration dates.”

Flashback for me to walking down to get food for the pantry after Teresa and Julia worked their magic.  It was so very organized – cans with small white, hand written labels of expiration dates (because it is often hard to read the labels stamped on the top/bottom).  This was back when we were just starting the Little Yellow Free Pantry, and we did not have many guests yet.  We had signs up saying things like, “Need food?  Free groceries!” with a location of where to come.  We had them translated into 4 or 5 languages and hung them around on our fence and at nearby bus stops.  It is funny to think about it now, but 3 ½ years ago when the pantry started, I was afraid it wouldn’t take off and we wouldn’t have enough guests.  The task of putting dates on cans is no longer needed since we go through donations so quickly.

When things got busier, the Pantry Crew was born and Teresa became a member.  I asked her what she liked about volunteering for Kindness Activist. “I like helping other people.  There are many people who are food insecure.  Having a place where they can come and select what they want is a wonderful thing for the community.  If I can help facilitate that, I will.”

Like many kind humans, Teresa volunteers at several places.  “I volunteer for Monday night distribution at two street corners near Arlington Mill.  The food comes from Food for Others.  Then I volunteer at the Clothesline for Arlington’s kids (a service that gives free good quality clothing to school age children).  I go into the shop and help clients select clothing. I also knit hats and scarves for Clothesline, and I have also brought some over for Kindness Activist’s Project Warmth and given some to Casa Mariflor (a local organization that assists mostly Latinx community members and immigrants).”

The truth is, not many Americans take the time to help out like Teresa does.  I asked her why she is willing to get involved so much with volunteering.  “I’ve done it for many, many years.  I was a Peace Corps volunteer in the ‘80s.  So, I’ve been volunteering when I can for years!  It’s a feel-good feeling for me.”

Ahhh, such a good point, and one people who have not volunteered may not have experienced.  Helping – volunteering - not only helps others, it also makes YOU feel good.  That a bonus that can’t be overlooked.

“Have you met any pantry guests?” I asked.  “There is the Lentil Man," she answered.  "And just last week a man came who was moving out.  He brought all of these packages of fancy beans and things from Whole Foods or Mom’s Organic Market.”

I posed a question that other Pantry Crew members and I have mulled over – what is your favorite thing to put in the pantry?

“Lately, the canned mango slices look really good,” was Teresa’s answer.  “I am a vegetarian, but I put in a wide variety, including proteins, so that people can choose.”

“I am thrilled that there are so many wonderful donors that keep the shelves full.  That allows the Crew to keep the Pantry full.  And I like the fact that there are birthday parties for the pantry.  I make a point of donating goods at that time.”

Handmade birthday card given to the Little Yellow Free Pantry from a neighbor

On a recent stop for Pantry Duty, Teresa found the bright yellow shelves completely bare.  “There was not a lick – not even one CAN,” she said.  “You think the vegetables won’t go, but they do eventually.  When I used to volunteer at AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center) I learned that canned corn is popular.”  So true – canned corn is the most popular veg at the Little Yellow Free Pantry, too.

“I love to volunteer with your activities because I love the concept of Kindness Activist.  You and David are such amazing people.  Helping in whatever way – you put out a call – if I am free, I’m coming because I want to spread kindness like you.  It’s a ripple!”

And with that, Teresa and I got into a “You’re amazing,” feud.  “You’re amazing!”  “No, YOU’RE amazing!!”

“Well, you allow me to be amazing.  Because of your activities.  I wouldn’t be as amazing if I didn’t have all of these different options available to me.”

Thank you, amazing Teresa.  Your support and gift of time help Kindness Activist thrive.  We appreciate you!

If you would like to volunteer with Kindness Activist, please get in touch.  Email us at:  KindnessActivist@Gmail.com .  We are often looking for volunteers for various projects (though the Pantry Crew is full at the moment 😊 ). 

And if you would like to help out by donating to the Little Yellow Free Pantry, the Amazon Wishlist can be found here:  Kindness Activist Pantry Wishlist .   If you are local to the DC Metro and would like to drop off pantry items (shelf stable, unopened, unexpired food and/or full sized unopened unexpired toiletries), please do not put them directly in the pantry.  Instead, leave them in the plastic donation bin on our front porch.  Email for the address if needed.

Support From Joe

I have loved Trader Joe's for years.  I mean, loved...  Like, loved so much that in 2015 I embarked on a ridiculous project to review one Trader Joe's product EVERY.  SINGLE.  DAY. For a whole entire year!  And I did it!!!  That Trader Joe's review blog (like at bottom) now has well over a million hits.  Looks like I am not the only person who loves Trader Joe's.

I didn't think my love for TJ's could get any deeper, but recently it has.  A woman from our local TJ's contacted me and asked if there might be a way for her store to help out the Little Yellow Free Pantry!!!  As you can expect, I was so excited.  I do not really like asking for help, and I am not that great at marketing.  So the fact that THEY reached out to ME was amazing!

I met with that woman and the manager of the store.  We talked about the Little Yellow Free Pantry, my vision for it, and how it serves the community.  I explained that I really feel that everyone deserves good food (and a tasty treat sometimes, too).  We talked about how diverse the people who access the pantry are - families, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants...  It is open to everyone, no judgement.

And they GOT IT.  Like, they felt the same way I do (which is not surprising when I think about it, Trader Joe's as a corporation is so open minded and great about giving back to the communities they serve).  

So here we are!  They have agreed to do a trial of supporting the Little Free Yellow Pantry!  I am thrilled.  They donated supplies that are in high demand - pasta sauce, honey, soup, beans (Cowboy beans, I need to buy some of my own and try them, that's a product I haven't tasted yet), and canned chicken.  And BAGS so that I can put pantry visitor's shopping in sturdy bags.  

Color me grateful.  

Their support will not replace community donations for the pantry, obviously.  Kind and generous neighbors keep it stocked with all sorts of amazing food that visitors are so thankful for.  

If you are considering a donation to the Little Yellow Free Pantry, items we are currently low on (last week of September 2021) are:

• rice
• single servings of Mac and Cheese
• boxes of Mac and Cheese
• single servings of cereal
• boxes/bags of cereal
• single serving bottles of water
• cake mixes
• cake frosting
• canned vegetables
• single servings fruit cups
• bags of sugar
• Maseca (flour)
• salt
• pepper

If you are in the metro Washington DC area, pantry donations can be left in the plastic bin on our front porch.  If you are not local but would like to contribute, donations are always accepted.  Venmo is @susan-thompson-gaines and PayPal is @thompsongaines@msn.com. 

  

Thank you Trader Joe's.  And THANK YOU  community.  Knowing that visitors can stop by anytime day or night and get food that is nourishing and filling makes my heart happy.  It truly takes a village, and I am proud to be a part of this one.

Link to my Trader Joe's review blog:  Trader Joe's 365