calsfoundation@cals.org
Support the Little Free Pantries
- Children’s Library 4800 W 10th St, Little Rock, AR 72204
- Dee Brown Library 6325 Baseline Rd, Little Rock, AR 72209
- Fletcher Library 823 N Buchanan St, Little Rock, AR 72205
- McMath Library 2100 John Barrow Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204
- Millie Brooks Library 13024 AR-365, Wrightsville, AR 72183
- Nixon Library 703 W Main St, Jacksonville, AR 72076
- Terry Library 2015 Napa Valley Dr, Little Rock, AR 72212
- Thompson Library 38 Rahling Cir, Little Rock, AR 72223
- Maumelle Library 10 Lake Pointe Dr, Maumelle, AR 72113
- Rooker Library 11 Otter Creek Ct, Little Rock, AR 72210
- Oak Forest Community Garden 2600 S Monroe St, Little Rock, AR 72204
These pantries are stocked weekly by Be Mighty Little Rock and community members. With the aid of several different grant sources, we purchase goods in bulk and build donation bags for each branch on a weekly basis. We encourage community members to stock the pantry with nonperishable goods in addition to our weekly deliveries.
A longstanding tenant of the Be Mighty program has been to provide avenues to free food for families in Central Arkansas. To create an even more direct path to food, we modeled this program after the nationwide Little Free Pantry project. Pantries are either made of wood and cement outside of the library or made of upcycled metal newspaper stands and located on library grounds or in the library lobby.
Community Fridges
- Williams Library 1800 S Chester St, Little Rock, AR 72206
- McMath Library 2100 John Barrow Rd, Little Rock, AR 72204
- Nixon Library 703 W Main St, Jacksonville, AR 72076
Community fridges are judgement-free spaces to take what you need to feed yourself and your family. Supplemental meal efforts made through little free pantries and community refrigerators support not only children, but their caregivers and patrons.
Community Refrigerators were funded through the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the National Recreation and Parks Association, and Tyson Foods.
Be Mighty Little Rock works with Potluck Food Rescue to stock fridges once a week. We have also received grant funding to support community refrigerators through the Arkansas Community Foundation and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s Hunger Reduction Initiative.
Food For Fines
This year, the food drive will run for two weeks, December 8-21, and each item will offset $2 worth of fines, versus the one dollar offered in previous years. Most donated items will be kept at CALS to stock the Little Free Pantries.
During Food for Fines, patrons are invited to bring non-perishable food and personal hygiene products to a CALS library to offset overdue fines on their accounts; patrons may bring up to 10 items to offset up to $20 worth of fines. CALS encourages patrons to donate to the drive even if they don’t have any fines and will apply additional “funds” to randomly selected accounts. Fines accrued for billed items or replacement fees are not eligible under the program. Items can be dropped off at any CALS library.
Patrons are asked to bring unopened, prepackaged non-perishable items. Recommended items for the holiday season include canned meats, fruits, and vegetables; boxed meals and pasta; canned gravies; mashed potato mix; and boxed stuffing. Additionally, items that can be used by unsheltered individuals, such as ready-to-eat meals and soups featuring pop tops, granola bars, and individually wrapped snacks are appreciated. Other items that are popular in the pantries include sanitary products, soaps, deodorants, diapers, and school supplies. While all non-perishable items are welcome, no glass or homemade items are allowed.
Be Mighty
Be Mighty Little Rock is a city-wide anti-hunger campaign aimed at connecting kids, teens, and families to free meals, cooking and nutrition education, food security resources, and opportunities to eat, play and learn.