KENTWOOD, Mich. — In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., the City of Kentwood is hosting a food drive to gather supplies needed to launch its second Little Free Pantry, which will be housed at the Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry initiative began in 2017 as a Martin Luther King Jr. Day community service project to fill an immediate and local need. Since then, the City of Kentwood has continued to host food drives to keep the pantry well-stocked.
Canned goods and other non-perishable items collected this month will be used to stock the new pantry, which has been made possible due to an anonymous donation. The grand opening date for the new pantry has not yet been announced.
“Kentwood is a compassionate, giving community that celebrates neighbors helping neighbors, especially in times of need,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said in a press release. “We’re asking the community to come together to help us launch a second Little Free Pantry to increase access to food assistance, which has been a growing issue compounded by the pandemic. If you can, please donate non-perishable items this month and consider becoming a year-round partner so we provide a more sustainable resource for those experiencing food insecurity.”
Collection hours and locations are as follows:
- Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE: Donations may be dropped off 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Face coverings are required for anyone who enters the facility, along with check-in for contact-tracing purposes.
- Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE: Donations may be placed inside the collection bin 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. to noon Friday. Visitors are required to wear a face covering and practice physical distancing.
- Kent District Library – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch, 4950 Breton Ave. SE: Donations may be dropped off via curbside service only during business hours 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Call the number listed on the signs in the parking lot upon arrival for assistance.
- Kentwood Justice Center, 4740 Walma Ave. SE: Donations may be placed inside the collection bin 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visitors are required to wear a face covering and practice physical distancing. Call 616.698.6580 upon arrival for assistance.
Collection bins are also available for donation drop-off at Railtown Brewing Company, 3595 68th St. SE, and Saint Mark Lutheran Church, 1934 52nd St. SE.
The city it's also seeking more community partners who are willing to place a Kentwood Little Free Pantry collection bin at their organization or business. Those interested may contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270 or eRecreation@kentwood.us.
More information about Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, including a list of suggested donations, is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
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