Woman creates food pantry to help during coronavirus

Wanting to help those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, a woman created her own food pantry at her house on Eleventh Street in Albemarle.

Morghan Eckenfels reconfigured her small library book-sharing box in her front yard into a food pantry for people to donate and pick up supplies. People can take any items they desire from the box free of charge.

“It’s kind of a movement,” she said about people opening their own customized food pantries.

They are often referred to as Blessing Boxes and a pilot project called Little Free Pantry began in 2016 to take “action against local food insecurity.” She read about Little Free Pantry a few years ago and was always intrigued. After she saw an article on Facebook about Blessing Boxes, she decided to start one of her own.

She initially donated a few items of her own and then her neighbors chipped in. The movement started to take off when she posted about it on Facebook.

She’s gotten so many donations that sometimes the pantry has been overflowing with items. Eckenfels had to take some items inside her house to place back in the pantry at a later time.

Common supplies have included non-perishable canned goods, like pasta sauce, along with macaroni and cheese, granola bars and peanut butter. One person recently donated a Lowe’s gift card so she could build a bigger pantry while another donated a big bag of toilet paper.

People have been donating supplies to Morghan Eckenfels food pantry she set up last week. Photo courtesy of Morghan Eckenfels.

A colorful sign is attached to the door which reads: “Take what you need! Leave what you can. All items have been donated by your neighbors.”

The generosity she’s witnessed over the past week has really been moving.

“I think it’s amazing,” she said of the people donating items.

While people have been panicking and fighting over toilet paper, which she says can be discouraging, she said her project has reminded her “that the majority of people are good and care about each other.”

“One thing I’ve noticed is it seems like a lot of times the people that help the most are the ones that know what it’s like to need help,” she said. “They give what they can because they know what it’s like to be in a situation where you’re desperate and you need food.”

Craig Marsh, who lives in Montgomery County, made the 20-mile trek Thursday to the pantry to donate a bag of food including vienna sausage, salmon, crackers and tuna.

“It touched my heart,” Marsh said when he first heard about the project. Though it’s a small pantry, “the thought is there,” he said.

“I feel best when I’m helping others,” she said.

SportsPlus

News

6 from Stanly County named North Carolina Teaching Fellows

News

Fine Arts Educator of the Year honored by Stanly County Arts Council

News

Stanly Community College to have Transition Fair

News

Stanly County Health Department releases 2024 Community Health Assessment

News

Big Lick Bluegrass Festival returns for 21st year

News

NC NEWSLINE: Proposed pipeline project would harm North Carolina communities, report shows

News

Carolina Christian School announces honor roll

News

DAR honors young writers, video producers

News

Stanly Community College named Bellwether finalist for second consecutive year

News

Stanly Community College to offer practical welding course

News

SPIRIT OF STANLY: Bluegrass is served at Rocky River Springs

News

Friends of the Stanly County Public Library have book sale

News

NC NEWSLINE: Medicaid cuts could hurt older adults who rely on home care, nursing homes

News

SCC honors cosmetology graduates in pinning ceremony

News

DAR honors young writers, video producers

News

Locust Police names Citizen of the Year

News

State prepares for measles prevention amid national increase in cases

News

PEEKING INTO THE PAST: Badin Museum

News

PEEKING INTO THE PAST – Bonnie Smith Culp

News

Former Albemarle city employee files suit alleging wrongful termination, racial discrimination

News

SPIRIT OF STANLY: A dealership built by family

News

Marriage Licenses – February 2025

News

DSS, Butterfly House team up to spread awareness of child abuse

News

Uwharrie Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex to open