Little Free Pantry
An effort to provide “little essentials” of food, toiletries, and household items from an outdoor pantry at FUMC has turned into a much bigger coalition serving neighborhoods in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and Cashmere.
FUMC’s Little Free Pantry – a cart filled with free non-perishable foods, toilet paper, diapers, and similar items – was established this spring in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, five more churches have set up carts or cabinets stocked with essentials.
Church and community volunteers set the cartwheels in motion. They’ve coordinated expansion to other churches and made visits to migrant camps to distribute food, toys, and toiletries to residents. An estimated 360 people per day are served from these pantries.
Donations are encouraged from those who can give, but none is required. Wenatchee First UMC's pantry is located on the south side of the church building. Its hours vary by season, and it is currently open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Volunteers set up the cart each morning, re-stock it twice a day, before putting it away for the night.
Church and community members have kept the pantry running with donations of non-perishable foods which is key to the pantry's continued success (see list of needed items). A bin for donations is located at the back entrance to the church. Please keep the Little Free Pantry in mind when grocery shopping.
Item Donations
We are always in need of items for our Little Free Pantry and we are starting to collect items for the Monitor Migrant camp. The Migrant Camp will be an ongoing outreach, lasting through apple picking season in the fall.
Please consider those in need next time you are at the grocery store. To make your next shopping trip easier, we have created a Grocery List Template that includes items in need. Simply print out this list and add your regular items, the list includes suggested donation items that are always in need. As always, we appreciate your continued support for this important ministry.
Monetary donations would also be accepted. You can donate by mailing a check to the church or visiting our secure Online Giving Portal. Please designate your donation as “Monitor Migrant Camp Outreach” or "Little Free Pantry."