You’ve seen those tiny, painted boxes posted up in a front yard or outside of a business, but have you ever wondered how these brightly colored gems got there?

Combined, there are 60+ Little Free Pantries and Little Free Libraries spread across the city providing access to books, food, and hygiene products to Louisvillians that need them.

Since “Little Frees” started popping up, Derby City has embraced the neighbors helping neighbors mentality. There’s a public FaceBook group with 1,500+ members that has been sharing information and resources online for the past three years and last November, a 13-year-old Louisvillian installed a free pantry in J-town.

Today, we’re breaking down these little bundles of good, including what they are, who they’re for, where to find one + how you can become a Little Free host.

What they are

The Little Free Libraries provide access to books for those who might not have easy access to a public library. Little Free Pantries are modeled after the libraries, but are a 24/7, zero-barrier access point for food. Both operate on a take what you need, give what you can model.

Who they’re for

Well, that’s easy. They’re for everyone + anyone, but more specifically the pantries help support community members facing food insecurity. The libraries aim to service children and their families to help further their education and support high school graduation status.

Where to find them

The locations of both the pantries and the libraries can be found on interactive maps.

How to start one

You can become a pantry host by purchasing one on a sliding scale here. To start a Little Free Library you can simply build one on your own or buy one from the Little Free Library online store. Both the library + pantry boxes come undecorated, so you can customize the look on your own. Get inspired by checking out these designs.

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