Bright Spot: Faith Lutheran in Winona's Little Free Pantry

(Winona) — In response to perceived food insecurity in our community, Faith Lutheran Church applied for a 2025 Southeastern Minnesota Synod (SEMN Synod) Food Ministry Grant of $500 in order to put up a Little Free Pantry on our property. We received the grant, and the Pantry project is now complete.

With confirmation from Winona Volunteer Services of a real food security challenge in our community, Pastor Greg purchased materials from a local hardware store and cut and dry-fit the pantry in his garage, following plans available online. 

The boards were then brought to church, where the congregation was invited to stay after worship to help assemble and paint the pantry. It was then mounted on a post that had been installed by the Property Committee.

The Little Free Pantry operates on a "take what you need, leave what you can" basis, allowing community members to freely access nonperishable food items, personal care products, and other essential supplies. A high school member of the congregation has volunteered to be the pantry manager and is responsible for reminding the congregation to bring nonperishable food to restock it, maintaining the interior, and buying supplies as needed. Because the store where we bought the materials offers a rebate, the cost of materials resulted in us getting store credit back, which we are using to buy food for the pantry.

Thank you, SEMN Synod Food Ministry Grant, for supporting this project. We pray that it will serve our community as we reach out with love and with food in the name of Jesus.

To financially support SEMN Synod Food Ministry grants for local congregations, visit semnsynod.org/givenow (select “Global Partners” and type “Food Ministry” in the memo).