Langdon Free Little Pantry strikes back at impoverishment

By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Upon noticing a rise in anonymous Facebook confessions from families struggling to make ends meet, one Langdon woman took it upon herself to foster understanding, support and community spirit by creating a resource where people could drop off or pick up personal essentials donations for those in immediate need.
In order to help those in need in the best way she could think of, local mother Launa Austin created the Free Little Pantry – similar to the Free Little Library concept but for personal and home needs – where people can drop off items to be picked up by those who need them for free.
Located in Langdon on Railway Place next to a group of mailboxes, along the road to the dump sits the decorated bright purple Free Little Pantry: a converted filing cabinet spruced up to hold pantry items, home supplies, personal and baby care products.
Earlier this year, Austin noticed an increase in anonymous Facebook confession page posts from locals struggling to make ends meet and posting how terrible they felt that they couldn’t provide for their families or how funds were tight that month due to unexpected expenses.
“I knew the Rocky View Food Bank was doing an excellent job providing longer-term needs but I wanted to do something that someone could go to immediately (for help), whenever they were comfortable without stigma,” said Austin, adding that she placed the pantry near the mailboxes as it is an easy-to-find area with limited houses surrounding it so that people can access the pantry with confidence and no perceived judgement.
Austin started the project after hearing of similar concepts being implemented in nearby towns and how they can be a life-saver for people who live paycheque to paycheque, if unexpected expenses come up, or for those suffering through without asking for the help and support they need right away.
The four-drawer pantry in Langdon houses baby and personal hygienic items, pantry items such as canned and non-perishable goods, items for meals and kids’ lunches, pet food, house items and cleaning supplies. Donated items should be unopened, or if they are opened they should be individually sealed. Diapers remain the exception and can be donated as an open package, however baby wipes should be sealed. For dry pet food donations, due to space constraints, Austin divides the food into individual bags so that it fits better into the pantry and people can take any amount they need.
Austin has also created a Facebook page called “Little Free Pantry – Langdon” for people to join and anonymously ask for items they need while other page members can respond with when they will be able to donate the items to the pantry so the original poster can collect what they need when it is dropped off. The page is also a resource for Austin to put out a call for specific items if she sees the pantry getting low on anything and to keep page members updated.
“It is a community ‘food bank’ if you will, designed for short-term and is immediately accessible for anyone that needs it … the community has been exceptional with heeding the call for specific items,” said Austin, whose goal is to supply short-term needs and not to try to replace the Rocky View Food Bank, which services Langdon.
Currently, Austin is trying to combat the drop in temperature by posting alternative suggestions to the Facebook page for items that can freeze, such as by donating powder base laundry soaps versus liquid soaps. If the pantry is full or if donators are unsure if they can donate certain items, donations are also accepted at Austin’s house and she will re-stock the pantry when the supplies get low.
The community has been very accepting of the project with donations being dropped off and picked up daily.
“New items get donated often, they magically appear – it’s like Christmas when I open the drawers,” said Austin. “It fills my heart, I love it and appreciate that community members are keeping it in mind.”
For the creation of the pantry, Austin teamed up with Indus Graphics who donated the materials and time to paint and create the decals for the pantry.
“I am hoping with this Free Little Pantry people can feel comfortable and supported in their community and not struggle in silence … my motto for the FLP is ‘leave what you can, take what you need’,” said Austin.