SIDNEY – In response to the growing strain of a local and national food crisis, the Tri-County Seniors in Sidney have quietly launched a new resource with a simple message: if you need it, it’s yours.
The group has opened a Little Food Pantry outside the AO Fox Tri-Town Campus building (formerly The Hospital) at 43 Pearl Street in Sidney, offering free, shelf-stable food to anyone in the community who needs it — no questions asked.
The pantry itself has a story. Once an ordinary kitchen cabinet, it was rebuilt and repurposed by Dave Allen, a retired industrial arts instructor. The original plan was to create a “little library” with a few food items tucked inside. But as prices climbed and need became more visible, the Tri-County Seniors shifted priorities.
“With the current need, we decided to fill it with food for now and add the books later,” the group explained.
Today, the cabinet-turned-pantry holds a rotating assortment of non-perishable, shelf-stable foods and is open to the public around the clock. Any community member in need is welcome to stop by, open the door and take what they need.
Donations are encouraged. The Tri-County Seniors are asking neighbors to contribute:
• Shelf-stable, unexpired food items
• No glass or other breakable containers, for safety
Those wishing to help can simply place donated items directly into the Little Food Pantry at 43 Pearl Street. For more information, community members may contact:
Carol Allen, president, Tri-County Seniors, 607-563-8065
