McComb free pantry gets upgrade

McCOMB — It's hard to improve on the whole idea of Little Free Pantries. These are small boxes stocked with food given by community members that is open for anyone to take. But Kirsten Seele has come up with a way to make her pantry in McComb even better. The 2014 McComb High School graduate is now including copies of recipes in a holder attached to the front of the red and white wooden box that stands just outside the village administration office at 210 E. Main St. The recipes are meant to help community members create a meal from ingredients that can oftentimes be found in pantries. "We're always trying to do something a little different," said Seele. Sometimes it's not just about having food, she said, but knowing what to do with it. Luckily, Seele is a dietician with lots of ideas that can result in a meal. A brochure she designed is also included that explains what the pantry is and a list of desired donations. "It's just kind of an overview because some people don't actually know, am I allowed to take stuff, or is this OK to put in, so reinforcing the food safety aspect," she explained. Shelf-stable, unopened food in its original packaging is requested. Food items should be within their "Best By" date. Canned goods should be free of dents, rust, bulging or leaks. Clean, unopened personal care and household items are also accepted. Seele also included instructions for how to cook dried beans which is a staple in many food pantries. She noted that the pantry hasn't had many problems with people who don't follow the rules. "But every once in a while, people will put deli meat or any packaged meat products in the pantry. I've had a handful of that from time to time. I know they mean well, but that's something we don't need in there. It's not a refrigerator, it's a pantry," said Seele. Residents will occasionally leave books and clothes as well. Seele said if the donation is large and takes up too much room, she may remove it. "I'm not sure if McComb has any other place for donations of that sort or if they have to go to Findlay. My pantry's there, so they're just like, well, I have this to donate. Maybe somebody here can use it," she said. Some community members have taken ownership of the pantry and will clean it up if there's a spill, she said. And one woman puts out the basket for fresh fruit and vegetable donations. "She's done it a handful of years. She normally gets to it first, so I just let her put that basket out," Seele said. "She's really into helping out." The first recipes are Peanut Butter Energy Bites with oatmeal and honey; an easy bean and rice bowl that contains rice, beans, corn, salsa and then cheese if they have it; and vegetable soup made from beans, broth or water, tomatoes mixed with cheese and some seasonings. Seele said she's working on some new recipes for fall. "Pumpkin recipes will come next," she said. "We need those ideas like how to use it because otherwise people just think like pumpkin pie." Seele has always advocated for more kid-friendly foods like macaroni and cheese cups, canned pastas, peanut butter, cups of applesauce and individually bagged snacks of crackers and Chex mix. "I do see some of the kids will stop by and grab a snack out of it, and that's what it's there for," she said. Canned meats or tuna are also good choices because protein is the more expensive part of a grocery order. "I think if that's supplied, that can definitely save someone some money," she said. Not long ago Seele added a new item - pantry meals which featured all of the non-perishable items needed for a dish together in a Ziplock bag. She's done beef and noodles with canned beef, gravy, egg noodles, packaged mashed potatoes and green beans; and boxed macaroni and cheese with tuna and a can of green beans. "It's just to kind of show this is how you can make a meal from all pantry staples," she said. "It's well-balanced. Nutritionally, it could be worse." Monetary donations have recently to given to the project. Seele uses the cash to shop for the pantry. "I still shop on a budget when I'm shopping for the pantry, using all the sales," she said. And every so often, the pantry benefits from food drives. "Our hope is that these resources make it a little easier to turn donated food into nutritious meals, reduce food waste, and give everyone a few new ideas to try at home," she wrote on the Little Free Pantry McComb Facebook page.