By Sherita Pryer
In the beginning of the pandemic, 17-year-old Alexandria Brown was challenged by a local Girl Scout to spend 80 hours making a difference in her community. Brown noticed a consistency with people walking 20 minutes or driving 10 minutes to her nearby convenience store. Through Brown’s own shopping experience, she knew there were very few healthy food options available.
“I’m originally from Washington, DC., and I lived in one of the most underserved African American communities,” Brown said. “There were convenient stores on every corner, and I noticed that those stores did not sell the healthiest foods.”
This lack of healthy food choices in her current neighborhood inspired Brown to create Little Free Pantries in Grier Heights. Brown, a Myers Park High School senior who is dual enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College, said. building the pantries was quite challenging. “I had to make precise cuts and made sure that every board was in the right place,” she said. “My Dad and Brother helped me build the pantries in secluded areas, therefore they are Covid friendly.”
More than 3,000 people live in Grier Heights and 46 percent receive food assistance. The median household income for community residents is under $20,000. Their nearest grocery store is about 1 mile from some Grier Heights locations, making it difficult for residents without transportation to access healthy food. With the help of her family, Brown replenishes the Little Free Pantries bi-weekly at three locations in Grier Heights (Fannie Circle and Gene Avenue, Billingsley and Marvin Roads, and Leroy and Sam Drenan Roads) with non- perishables, canned food, paper goods and other personal items for people in need. People can access items from the pantries, which are open 24-hours, at any time. In the beginning, Marvin’s Rd pantry required more assistance than the other locations. “The pantry on Marvin Road would
stay empty causing me to restock more frequently.” Brown delayed restocking for a few weeks with hopes of community involvement. “My predictions worked; the community began filling the pantries with donations.”
So far, local churches, senior facilities and the Grier Heights community has overwhelmingly supported Little Free Pantries with donations. “I never thought the project would take off this far,” Brown said. “People are traveling from parts of North Carolina and South Carolina to bring donations.” Brown advises teens with hopes of giving back to their communities is simply DO IT. “I wasn’t afraid, I listened to my heart and just did it.”
Brown hopes to add two more pantry locations before heading off to college. With the help of her family and community, Brown said she believes the food pantries will remain sustainable while she’s at school. In fact, for the past six months, a family friend has been donating to the pantries every two weeks, she added. “I see these food pantries being 100 percent self-sufficient. I know my community partners will continue to give donations while I’m in college.” Brown plans to return home periodically to check on the pantries.
Learn more about Little Free Pantries and how to donate items, including canned food, paper goods and school supplies, at little-free-pantry-grier-heights.business.site
Interested in donating to the Little Free Pantries? Drop off donations, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or send checks to the Grier Heights Community Center, 3100 Leroy St., Charlotte, N.C. 28205.