“In a time of uncertainty, we welcome you to take what you need,” reads a sign on the Little Free Library outside Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus.
The sign isn’t about books, however. It’s about food.
The library — like many across the Lehigh Valley — has shifted from feeding the joy of reading to providing a place for easy 24-hour access to nonperishable food.
“This is one way to reach out to others,” said Donna Forsythe, who converted part of the little library outside her home on Prospect Avenue in West Bethlehem to a pantry. “People are really isolated. If there’s some little way we can help people, we’ll do it. Food is a necessity.”
Little free libraries have been around for more than a decade; the first was built in Wisconsin in 2009. The goal: To share donated books so everyone, regardless of income, can enjoy a good read.
Since then, 100,000 library boxes registered with the nonprofit group Little Free Library have been erected across the globe. More than 165 million books have been shared through the libraries, increasing book access for readers of all ages and backgrounds.
In times like these, however, with many facing financial uncertainty and food insecurity, little libraries have taken on a new purpose.
The boxes, which are built to withstand weather and are set up outside shops, churches, schools and homes, provide a safe place to house food. People in need can simply take what they want. Thorough washing of hands before and after handling the items is recommended.
For some who are immunosuppressed and unable to shop at a supermarket, a box outside with food can be a welcome opportunity to supplement a pantry.
Even before the pandemic, about 1 in 10 people in the area relied on monthly visits to food banks, according to the Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council, a collaboration of organizations working to reduce food insecurity.
With unemployment rising exponentially, those numbers will surely climb.
“People want to do something,” said Kirsten Hess, owner of Let’s Play Books in Emmaus. “Even if it’s donating a roll of toilet paper. It helps us feel better and have a little control.”
Hess’ 15-year-old daughter, Madeline, was inspired to alter their book store’s free library. Like a lot of teens stuck inside these days, Madeline was surfing SnapChat, the popular social media app, and found out about a local church that decided to shift its little library to a pantry.
That gave her the idea. On Saturday, the Hesses moved the library from behind the store to highly visible Main Street and announced on their social media accounts that it has food items for those in need. Over the next day, people came by, adding nonperishable foods to the donations. It also has a bin of books for those who would like to continue reading.
Forsythe’s library still has a shelf for books, a much-needed activity when so much is closed. She also has a bread box with items such as bagels. Her food pantry items are coming and going.
She decided to convert part of her library when she learned last week that the coronavirus was worsening in the region.
“It’s a small way to provide food for anyone that needs it,” Forsythe said.
The library at Faith Presbyterian Church in Emmaus is usually full of free books for children and adults. Now it has shelf-stable foods such as canned green beans and soups, plus infant formula, napkins and trial sizes of shampoo.
Becki Mallozzi, pastor of the North Second Street church, said a number of congregants raised the idea of converting the library as a way for the church to help while following the guidance on strictly limiting social interactions.
“Any time there’s a mission project that the church is doing, it’s two-fold,” Mallozzi said. “For us, this is a way we can help sustain our village. We love our village and we love Emmaus and we want to help and keep people safe.”
Little library food pantries
Here are some of the Little Free Libraries that have food items:
* Let’s Play Books: 244 Main St., Emmaus
* Faith Presbyterian Church: 3002 N. Second St., Emmaus
* Neighborhood pantry: 537 Prospect Ave., Bethlehem
* St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church: 835 Third St., Whitehall Township
* St. John’s UCC: 538 Thomas St., Coopersburg
* Easton Area Neighborhood Center: 902 Philadelphia Road, Easton
* Emmanuel EC Church: 75 E. Union Blvd., Bethlehem
Morning Call features reporter Jennifer Sheehan can be reached at 610-820-6628 or jennifer.sheehan@mcall.com.
