“Dream Big, Don’t Wait to Grow Up, Be the Change This World Needs” BL Nov 17, 2021

“A little small act of Kindness can change the world!”

 

BL’s Little Free Pantries, Librairies, and Free Food Giveaways is a lot more than what’s in a name and a lot more than Little. The original pantry at 319 Sheridan Street in Brantford was founded in February 2019 by a young lady named Bryanna Leeder. Brya was just 10 years old when she started painting pictures and asking her mom to sell them so she could buy and fill backpacks in support of local youth. Then she started making up “You Matter” bags and Christmas stockings to share with seniors. She also started buying food to share and helped support the Paris, and other area Free Pantries for a year. Seeing all the help that the free pantries were providing, and seeing that there was a need, and no free pantries in Brantford at the time, Brya decided that she wanted to share even more kindness, food, and caring with her own neighbourhood and community.

 

Now some parents are supportive, and then there is Penny and Andy. They in no small way, got full force behind their daughter’s dream of sharing kindness and making sure that no one in their community would go hungry. They are amongst the hardest working and most humble parents a child could have. And when they aren’t helping guide BL’s operation or working in the trenches, helping the community in many other ways.

The original BL Little Free Pantries started with a structure that was made by Oarganized Kaos where local youth helped build the pantries. Brya being an aspiring artist started making and selling even more handmade crafts, jewlery and paintings under the name Ladybug Creations by BL to help buy food for the pantries. Then more and more of the community started getting behind Brya’s vision and thus began the legacy that is has now grown into a food secutity powerhouse.

 

Fast forward to today, the pantries have steadily grown into what is now 4 Little Free Pantries, a Little Free Library, a Clothing Pantries, and Free Food Giveaways that pop up sometimes 4 or 5 times a week at various locations around the City. There are no barriers to use of the pantries. No questions asked, no ID required and the most of the pantries operate 24 hours a day 365 days a year. BL says her pantries are “open to EVERYBODY! It doesn’t matter who you are. If you have a home or don’t, if you have a job or don’t, whether you’re a kid or an adult, I would love to help out and give you some food, and some books, and some clothes.”

 

A huge team of incredible volunteers has banded together behind Brya’s vision. Her organization has food rescue teams that provide logistics to transport donated food and other items, as well as teams that stop by the pantries several times a day to replenish, clean, and perform safety checks. They also have many volunteers that help with the Free Food Giveaways where the community can access a variety of amazing grocery items to help fill their cupboards.

 

The Pantries and Free Food Giveaways are in a huge part supported by a partnership with Pastor Jon from Compassion Ministries in Hamilton. Pastor Jon is the fellow that rolls in to the giveaways with the big white van usually loaded right to the roof with amazing, nutritious food to share. This partnership started when he had learned about the work BL wanted to do and they met and became instant friends. Together they started this incredible alternate stream of food sharing with the community. Every week the Free Food Giveaways and Pantries are helping hundreds and hundreds of people in the community.

 

With high housing costs and food inflation there is a huge need for this service. “We hope to help people before they reach crisis” says BL’s mom Penny. Saving some money on food can often make a difference and help people keep a roof over their heads. The pantries are there to help absolutley anyone who could use a little help and kindness.

 

BL is supported by a loving family, caring community, amazing volunteers, generous businesses and community partners. Her organization is also extremely pleased to get to share and pay forward their resources with many community agencies including students meal programs, seniors centers, school snack programs, and more!

 

If you would like to join in helping share BL’s kindness, you can support in many ways by volunteering, financial donations, and donations of food and supplies that help keep the pantries offering nutrition and comfort to our community. Please reach out to her team today!

 

As BL says “Spread Kindness Like Glitter” and “Stay Kind, You Matter!”