Little Free Pantry

Take what you need.

Give what you can.

10943 Northeast State Highway 104 Kingston, WA 98346

 

Sometimes the grocery budget runs out, supermarkets are closed and food banks aren’t open.

Kingston Cares operates a Little Free Pantry as a way of bridging the hunger gap in Kingston because we believe in zero-barrier access to food and basic hygiene items for all our neighbors. Beyond adults and seniors, a child or teen might not have a debit card, SNAP benefits, or transportation — but having 24/7 access to a stocked pantry they can walk to means they can reliably reach what they need, when they need it.

While we sponsor regular restocking as part of our program budget, we invite you to join us in sustaining this simple, effective community resource by becoming a participant. Whether you’re needing some items to get through a food shortage or you want to be a one-time or regular contributor, it’s a fun and easy way to get involved!

Check out our donation requests and guidelines below.

Little Free Pantry Tips & Tricks

Drop Off/Pickup Hours

24/7! It’s important we keep our pantry open and stocked at all hours so that anyone can access, at any time. Drop off your donations when it’s convenient. It’s helpful when you swing by first and see what needs re-stocking, so our LFP has a variety of options for visitors.

Keep It Clean

Our location is next to the highway near downtown and ferry traffic — which is great for accessibility and not-so-great for accumulating debris. Thanks for helping us maintain a healthy, friendly vibe by picking up litter around the LFP!

Stick to Donation Requests

We know, your snickerdoodle recipe is the best! But due to food safety protocols, we can’t accept homemade or perishable goods at the LFP. We have a detailed list below of what to bring, and we really appreciate you sticking to it!

Savvy Shopping

Take advantage of coupons and BOGOs at your next grocery run — you can stock up for your family and donate excess items to the LFP without breaking the bank!

Invite Community Support

Consider having your neighborhood host a mini-food drive. Or ask your child’s teacher for permission to have the classroom sponsor a restock by bringing in food or donation money. It’s a really simple way of spreading the word so families know how to contribute & access the LFP when needed!

Cash Donations

No time or inclination to shop, but want to help out? Let our awesome volunteers do the shopping and packing of your sponsored restocking! $20 restocks cans of protein like tuna and chicken, $50 allows us to provide snacks including nuts, protein bars and fruit cups and $150 allows us to do a full restock including valuable hygiene items like tampons, diapers and soap.

Donate
LFP Donation Guide

Want a copy of our LFP Donation Guide?

 Little Free Pantry FAQs

  • We appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep a safe and well-stocked pantry!

    Please do not donate:

    • homemade food

    • perishable items (produce or anything requiring refrigeration)

    • expired foods

    • clothing (takes up too much space!)

    • sharps such as razors, needles or knives

    • cleaning chemicals

    • medications

    • anything illegal

  • We totally understand.

    At Kingston Cares, we want to not only alleviate hunger, but change the culture around food insecurity – and that begins with our perceptions.

    If you borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor to make cookies for your child’s classroom, do you feel shame? Do you feel embarrassed if your friend offers to bring you soup after a long week? Hopefully not! All of us need to eat, multiple times each day, and sharing food is an act of care.

    Giving and receiving with love is one of the most common characteristics of a resilient community. Generosity is amplified when we do it together. So whether you’re dropping by the pantry because you have nothing in the cupboards and want to make a tuna casserole for your family, or you’re restocking protein bars for the teens walking home from school, we invite you to do it without fear or self judgement. You might just inspire another person to do the same. ♡

    And of course, you’re welcome to visit during quiet or night time hours, we’re open 24/7.

  • While we can’t guarantee that all these pantries are stocked and operational, you can enter your location and check out current pantries using this link.

  • We operate our Little Free Pantry under the community guidelines, Take What You Need. Give What You Can. This allows for us to abide by a trusting, relationship-based model where we aren’t monitoring who is using or donating to the pantry.

    The use of the pantry for hoarding, ransacking or pillaging is considered theft and prevents others in need from receiving the support they’re seeking.

    If you need significant grocery restocking, we invite you to visit ShareNet or Fishline Food Banks, where they are able to not only provide larger volumes of food, but also provide fresh and perishable foods like dairy, meat, fruits and veggies!

    We appreciate if you help us keep the area tidy by cleaning up litter when you visit the pantry!