City of Kentwood Invites Community to Participate in Day of Service in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Donations to be Collected to Stock Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the City of Kentwood will hold a food drive to stock its Little Free Pantry on Jan. 21. The City will collect canned goods and other non-perishable items on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the following locations:
- Family Fare, 6127 Kalamazoo Ave. SE - 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Celebration Cinema, 1506 Eastport Dr. SE - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department, 355 48th St. SE - 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The City is also seeking community partners willing to place a Kentwood Little Free Pantry collection bin for canned goods and other non-perishable items at their organization or business.
“Kentwood is a compassionate community which supports practical acts of generosity by encouraging neighbors to help neighbors especially in times of need,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Since 2017, Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry has assisted countless families to such an extent that the shelves become empty on a weekly basis.”
“To ensure those who need help can find it year-round, please lend a hand by donating to the pantry and consider becoming a year-round partner. Added partners will provide a more sustainable food source for our community.”
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry initiative began as an MLK Day community service project in 2017 to fill an immediate and local need throughout the year.
Located in the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, the premise of the Kentwood Little Free Pantry is similar to that of the Little Free Library movement: Take an item (or items) when needed and leave an item when you can. No applications necessary. No questions are asked.
Those interested in accepting a collection bin are encouraged to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 616.656.5270 or eRecreation@kentwood.us.
More information about Kentwood's Little Free Pantry, including a list of suggested donations, is available online at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.