Eagle Scout and Kenosha Public Library partner to launch Little Free Food Pantries
The project aims to provide round-the-clock access to essential food items for community members facing food insecurity.
As part of a commitment to giving back to the community, Mason chose to address local food insecurity for his Eagle Scout Service Project. His initiative focuses on creating accessible food resources for residents who may have difficulty reaching food banks or pantries during regular hours.
"I spent a lot of time at the library as a kid. I wanted to give back to a place that gave so much to me," he said.
Brandi Cummings, interim director of Kenosha Public Library, expressed pride in the collaboration
"The Little Free Food Pantries are a beautiful reflection of our mission to make resources accessible to all. This project aligns with our commitment to being an inclusive, welcoming space where the community's needs are met.," she said.
Mason hopes the pantries will inspire dual participation from the community.
"I hope people who need help will take food from the pantries, and those who want to give back will leave food for others. Each small act makes a big difference.," he said.
The Little Free Food Pantries are available at the Southwest, Northside, Simmons and Uptown Neighborhood Library branches. They are open 24/7. Anyone in need may take what they require from the branch locations. Those wishing to donate can also add non-perishable items.
Much More Than Books: The Evolution of the Kenosha Public LibraryLibraries are much different now than they were even five or 10 years ago. Whereas they used to be places to find books and do research, now they are community hubs, offering all manner of activities for all ages while still adhering to their purpose.
Here is a collection of photos from our "Much More Than Books: The Evolution of the Kenosha Public Library" three-day series that was published in the Kenosha News that looks at the changing role of the library in the community and shows how it is more relevant now than ever before.
For generations of children, public libraries across the U.S. have been synonymous with storytimes and other reading-related activities. With bright, vibrant, imagination-inspired images covering its body, the Kenosha Public Library's Bookmobile is hard to miss. Alexa. The Echo Dot. Google. Smartphones. The Internet. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY - WINDOWS 10 Marcia Siehr instructs a class on Windows 10 at the Northside Library on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY - WINDOWS 10 Marcia Siehr instructs a class on Windows 10 at the Northside Library on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY - WINDOWS 10 Marcia Siehr, left, helps Patsy Klein, center, and Bernie Baumiester during a class on Windows 10 at the Northside Library on Wednesday. SALEM — The Salem Community Library is becoming a hub of home-school activity thanks to new daytime programming geared toward the needs of non... Uploaded Photos From left, Destiny Jones, 10, Lola Bruns, 10, Noah Beeal, 8, Lisa Rivers, and Issac Shailer, 10, do a breakdown cheer at the end of the Discov... Uploaded Photos Isaac Shailor, 10, center, shares drawings of things he likes during the Discover Theater Class at the Southwest Library on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Uploaded Photos Lola Bruns, 10, shares that reading is her favorite thing to do as Isaac Shailor, 10, looks on during the Discover Theater Class at the Southw... Uploaded Photos Isaac Shailor, 10, acts out "confused" during the Discover Theater Class at the Southwest Library on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Uploaded Photos Lola Buns, 10, puts gestures to "confident" during the Discover Theater Class at the Southwest Library on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Uploaded Photos Lisa Rivers, left, motions as students from left, Noah Beeal, 8, Issac Shailor, 10, and Lola Bruns, 10, act out emotions during the Discover T... Uploaded Photos Kenosha Public Library employee Lisa Rivers, left, motions as students, from left, Noah Beeal, 8, Issac Shailor, 10, and Lola Bruns, 10, act o... Uploaded Photos From left, Destiny Jones, 10, Isaac Shailor, 10, Noah Beeal, 8, Lola Bruns, 19, and Lisa Rivers create a story out to act out during the Disco... Uploaded Photos From left, Isaac Shailor, 10, Noah Beeal, 8, Destiny Jones, 10, and Lola Bruns act out specific words from a story theyc created during the Di... Uploaded Photos Noah Beeal, 8, center, gestures typing as he plays charades during the Discover Theater Class at the Southwest Library on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY GAME CLUB Gamers play Ticket to Ride during Game Club at the Southwest Library on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY GAME CLUB Brothers Dakota, left, and Jasper Kane look at their cards as they strategize during Game Club at the Southwest Library on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY GAME CLUB From left, Rob Nunez and brothers Dakota and Jasper Kane play a game called Ticket to Ride during Game Club on Thursday at Southwest Library. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY GAME CLUB Rob Nunez, head of collection services, looks at his cards as he plays Ticket to Ride during Game Club at the Southwest Library on Thursday, J... Uploaded Photos LIBRARY GAME CLUB From left, Don Kresch, Rob Nunez and Dakota Kane play Ticket to Ride during Game Club at the Southwest Library on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY SERIES Theresa Seidel, a librarian at the Twin Lakes Community Library, reads to children during the preschool story time last Thursday. Uploaded Photos LIBRARY SERIES Theresa Seidel is a librarian at the Twin Lakes Community Library. Seidel was waiting for children to arrive for a preschool story time at the... Uploaded Photos LIBRARY SERIES Preschoolers Marty Best, left, and Charlie Best listen as Theresa Seidel, a librarian at the Twin Lakes Community Library, reads during the pr... Uploaded Photos LIBRARY SERIES Theresa Seidel, a librarian at the Twin Lakes Community Library, reads to children during the preschool story time. Thursday, January 10, 2019. Uploaded Photos St. Joseph Catholic Academy Lower Campus fifth-grade teacher John Roscioli, top middle, with his students, including Tommy Otto, lower left, a... Uploaded Photos The Kenosha Public Library's Bookmobile makes a stop at St. Joseph Catholic Academy Lower Campus on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. Uploaded Photos Janet Frieman, a customer services specialist at the Northside Library, logs hold items after they are sorted by the library's new automatic m... Uploaded Photos Kristin Kornkven leads the Social Justice Book Club as it meets at the Northside Library on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. Uploaded Photos Dani Lockwood, left, David Lockwood discuss their reading during the Social Justice Book Club as it meets at the Northside Library on Tuesday.... Uploaded Photos Dani Lockwood, left, David Lockwood, Ellie Gross discuss their reading as Kristin Kornkven, right, leads the Social Justice Book Club as it me... While books remain an important focal point of the Kenosha Public Library's day-to-day operations, they have become a fraction of what occurs ... Uploaded Photos Matthew Moon, 11, reads a book to Ellie and her handler, Dave Jouppi at the Southwest Library on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Uploaded Photos Hayden Stanis, 7, reads to Ellie and her handler, Dave Jouppie, at the Southwest Library on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Uploaded Photos Ryan Moon,9, reads to Otis and his handler, Joan Davies, at the Southwest Library on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Uploaded Photos Matthew Moon, 11, reads a book to Ellie and her handler, Dave Jouppi at the Southwest Library on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. Uploaded Photos A good listener Uploaded Photos Matthew Moon, 11, reads a book to Ellie and her handler, Dave Jouppi at the Southwest Library on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. It might be smaller in scope and serve fewer patrons, but the pair of Community Library branches serving residents in western Kenosha County h...
