Who is the Sparkle Pantry for?

 

The sparkle pantry is for neighbors helping neighbors. In high poverty areas, the sparkle pantry is most often for those who are not easily able to meet everyday food and personal needs. In middle-class neighborhoods, the sparkle pantry might stock after-school snacks for neighborhood kids or that "cup of sugar" you never have when you need it. In all places, the Sparkle Pantry is for those who want and/or need to give.

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How does the Sparkle Pantry differ from other food pantries? 

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• Many food pantries require an application before use and have set hours of operation. Anyone may access the sparkle pantry at any time.

• Food pantries operate as service providers, those who use them as clients. The sparkle pantry dissolves that professional boundary. Whether stocking or taking stock, everyone approaches the sparkle pantry the same way, mediating the shame that accompanies need.

• Food pantries are critical in addressing food insecurity. But some fall through the cracks. The sparkle pantry is a safety net.

• The sparkle pantry is a proving ground, testing concepts like community, charity, justice, and sharing economy.

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