(11/26/24) BATON ROUGE, La. — Ethan Jeffus had a big idea, but knew he had to start small — small as in the size of a modest mini fridge. The big idea was combatting rural food insecurity with limited resources, and thus Little Free Pantry Louisiana was born.

Jeffus has dedicated much of his life to helping others, a trait he inherited from his grandmother. It was a lack of access to nearby food banks in her hometown of Sibley, Louisiana, that sprouted the idea of creating a small space for neighbors to donate nonperishable goods to share with those in need.

“When people unite with a selfless desire to make a difference, remarkable things can be achieved,” Jeffus said. “The collective efforts of communities across the state have been instrumental in turning this idea into a sustained success.”

The LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities initiative heard of Jeffus’ efforts, and agents hopped on board to offer help in planning, installing and promoting little free pantries across the state. There are now 26 locations statewide. Shakera Williams, AgCenter agent in Webster and Claiborne parishes, sees an abundance of opportunities for continued growth.

“Little free pantries remind us that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. By sharing what we have, we not only provide nourishment but also strengthen the sense of community and hope,” she said. “In times of need, these simple gestures bring people together and make the world a better place.”

As opposed to traditional food pantries, little free pantries, also known as blessing boxes, are always open and offer a limited variety of items to meet basic needs. They typically include canned and boxed foods; household goods like foil and paper towels; personal hygiene items like toothpaste and deodorant; and baby needs such as diapers and formula. The LSU AgCenter has created a guide with all the details on how to get started at https://tinyurl.com/5ybxfhz4.

These types of neighborhood outreach efforts are especially necessary during the holiday season, when local food banks are working their hardest to provide goods and services to their communities. Outlets like little free pantries can, in some small way, ease a bit of the pressure the larger organizations face during their busiest time of year, Williams said.

“Little free pantries are open to anyone, with no questions asked, making them especially accessible for individuals who may not meet the requirements of traditional food pantries, which often require proof of need or residency,” she said.

When asked what’s next on Jeffus’ philanthropic agenda, he said he’d like to focus on uniting communities in the fight against food insecurity to ensure everyone has access to food and essential items through the little free pantries.

“This project is focused on addressing food insecurity, and while we've made progress, there’s still much to do,” he said. “Our goal is to raise awareness and encourage the creation of more little free pantries, building a community committed to giving and making a difference.”

Williams fully believes that whatever Jeffus sets his mind to do next, he will be successful.

“It's inspiring to see the progress that Ethan has made across the state,” she said. “Raising awareness and expanding food access through little free pantries is such a great way to directly support communities suffering from food insecurity. I’m excited to see how the initiative grows and the positive impact it will continue to make. Together, we can all make a meaningful difference in addressing food insecurity.”

When donating Thanksgiving foods to a little free pantry, it's important to choose items that are shelf stable, nutritious and easy to prepare. Selecting foods that are easy to open can also help make the donation more accessible to everyone. The list below includes some Thanksgiving-inspired foods:

Canned fruits and vegetables

• Canned peaches (packed in water or 100% fruit juice)
• Canned pears (packed in water or 100% fruit juice)
• Canned pineapple (packed in 100% fruit juice or water)
• Canned fruit cocktail (in its own juice, with no added sugar)
• Canned mandarin oranges (in water or 100% juice)
• Canned cherries (preferably in water or natural juice, not syrup)
• Canned plums (packed in their own juice or water)
• Canned apples (without added sugar or syrup)
• Canned apricots (packed in their own juice or water)
• Canned mango slices
• Canned pumpkin (great for pies, soups and baking)
• Canned sweet potatoes or yams (preferably low sugar or no added sugar)
• Canned cranberry sauce (preferably low sugar or no added sugar)
• Canned green beans or other vegetables (low-sodium options)
• Canned corn (no added sugar or salt)
• Canned gravy (low sodium)
• Low-sodium broth (such as chicken, vegetable and turkey)

Grain foods

• Instant mashed potatoes (low-sodium options)
• Boxed stuffing mix (whole grain or low sodium)
• Macaroni and cheese
• Brown rice or quinoa (as a side dish alternative)
• Cornbread mix (whole grain)
• Whole-wheat pasta
• Couscous or bulgur wheat

Protein foods

• Canned turkey or chicken (in water, not oil)
• Canned beans (such as black beans or chickpeas)
• Nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter)

Dairy foods

• Canned evaporated milk (for cooking and baking)
• Canned condensed milk (can be used in desserts and other recipes)
• Powdered milk (excellent source of protein and can be rehydrated with water)

Snacks

• Granola bars (low sugar, high protein)
• Dried fruit (like raisins, apricots and cranberries)
• Nuts and seeds (unsalted)
• Healthy crackers (whole grain, low sodium)

Beverages

• Tea bags (such as herbal or green tea)
• 100% fruit juice
• Coffee (ground or instant, if possible)
• Bottled water

For more information on little free pantries and how to get involved, visit littlefreepantry.org.

Ethan Jeffus stocks a little free pantry with nonperishable goods at Hug Your People Community Park in Zachary. The LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities initiative has been instrumental in promoting and assisting with Little Free Pantry Louisiana. Photo provided by Ethan Jeffus

A little free pantry in Ruston stocked with foods typically needed around Thanksgiving. Photo provided by Ethan Jeffus