SEQUIM — Community giving continues through another local Little Free Pantry.
The YMCA of Sequim at 610 N. Fifth Ave. added a purple, wooden box along North Fifth Avenue in front of its facility the week of Aug. 16, staff said.
The pantry offers nonperishable food items and some fresh produce so people “can take all you need, give all you can,” per the movement’s motto.
“We added a little food pantry to the Y so we can be of service to the community,” said Gail Sumpter, executive of the Sequim branch YMCA.
“We’ve been providing free meals to kids this summer, and we wanted another way we can provide food to those who may be in need in the community all year long.”
Some of the items available include fruit snacks, juices, crackers and canned foods.
Staff said community members can take what they need and donate nonperishable items to the YMCA’s front desk. Donated food items must be unopened and not expired, staff added.
Fresh produce will be supplied by the Sequim Food Bank.
Sumpter said staff have planned to add the pantry for a few months. Benji Astrachan, of Northwest Harvest, provided a debit card for supplies, initial stock and information about connecting weekly with the food bank.
Throughout the summer, the YMCA offered free weekend breakfasts for children through a grant from the Nourishing Neighbors Breakfasts for Kids program, and any remaining food from that program will go to after school snacks and to stock the pantry, Sumpter said.
YMCA of Sequim’s pantry joins others at: Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1033 N. Barr Road; St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 W. Fir St.; Sequim Valley Foursquare, 9090 Old Olympic Highway; and at 425 N. Sunnyside Ave., between Fir and Spruce streets.
To learn more about the YMCA’s food pantry, call the YMCA of Sequim at 360-477-4381.
