Mars Hill’s First Little Free Food Pantry Dedicated by Girl Scouts, Church

May 25

Mars Hill’s First Little Food Pantry Dedicated, Fully Stocked on May 22.

A local Girl Scout troop dedicated a first-of-its-kind food pantry in Mars Hill after worshiping alongside the Mars Hill United Methodist Church congregation on May 22, 2022. Known as a Little Free Food Pantry, it it the first such 24-hour food pantry available in Madison County, North Carolina.

The concept started to come to life in February when church members met with Amanda Garcia, the trooper leader for the local Girl Scouts who had asked permission to install a Little Free Food Pantry, a public service to the community, on our church property.

When meeting, two groups agreed on the perfect location: facing the church, the paved parking area next to the street and east of the entrance to the church, where it will not interfere with other church and community activities.

The pantry, which was completed earlier this spring, was designed, constructed and installed, by the troop. They also plan to maintain the pantry and restock it as needed using funds from local Girl Scout Cookie sales.

Church and community members are welcome to participate in restocking as well.

“Take what you need; give what you can.”

— Little Free Food Pantry in Mars Hill

The Little Free Food Pantry will be available 24 hours a day to whoever needs it. The rule is: “Take what you need; give what you can.”

The Little Free Food Pantry at Mars Hill UMC be the second Little Free Food Pantry developed by the Girl Scouts in our area. The first one is in cooperation with an Episcopal church in Asheville.

Thanks to the Girl Scout’s expansive spirit of mission, our congregation continues to reach out to our community in mission and service.

Watch: May 22, 2022

Little Free Food Pantry Dedication

Amanda’s child is enrolled in Mars Hill United Methodist Church Preschool. She is a native of Madison County, a graduate of Madison County High School and is employed by the Madison County Health Department. She expects to continue as troop leader “for the next 20 years”, so our cooperation in ministry should be a long-term partnership.