First Coastal Pantry Project at Garibaldi Grade School Gym Dec. 6 – Bring what you have, Take what you need, Learn about how to use foods

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Welcome to the first Coastal Pantry Project event!
Bring what you have, take what you need. This project is to help locals fill their pantry or freezer. The SNAP freeze brought attention to the need for more and better access to food throughout our communities. Many people are food insecure and don’t qualify for SNAP, and many people on SNAP still don’t have enough to feed their families.
Bay City resident Lauren Mehnert is organizing a swap and learn event — the Coastal Pantry Project. It’s a food swap (bring something, leave with something) and educational event on how to best utilize different items in cooking to maximize food donated or received from pantries.
The event will be December 6th from 11am to 2pm in the gym at Garibaldi Grade School. If it’s a success, other events may be planned in December or January and possibly another in February.

What is this project about?

“This event was born from my passion of feeding people delicious, nutrient rich food while also showing them how to use the most of what they have. Did you know only about 50-60% of food donated to organizations or food pantries is usable? Do you know that much of what is donated to people from those food pantries or food boxes is accidentally wasted because people just don’t know what to do with them? On top of that, much of what is donated through “bring a can” or “clean out the pantry!” events, aren’t able to be used whatsoever,” says the event’s social media page.

This is a food swap! Bring something, leave with something.

Have items you don’t know how to prepare or cook? Don’t be embarrassed in this space. Just ask! Have some items you’ve received that you can’t use but others could? Bring them! This is also an educational event with information on how to use different items in cooking to maximize food received from donation or items you’ve gotten from pantries. There will also be recipes available and handouts with tips and tricks!
What should you bring?
Do you make preserved goods and have some extra jars? Bring them! Do you ferment foods like sauerkraut or kimchi? Bring some! Did you have an abundant harvest this summer and threw some in the freezer? Bring it! We’re in need of extra proteins (All types! Do you have fresh fish you’ve frozen? Bring some! Have some meat in the freezer you want to donate? Bring it!), grains like regular and organic flour (for cooking and baking), dairy products like milk and butter (did you know bricks of cheese and butter can be frozen?), shelf stable dairy (and non-dairy!!!) items, peanut butter alternatives (sunflower seed butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or tahini), lentils, rice, pastas, seasonings, cooking oil, low/no sugar and low/no sodium sauces, and fresh (and canned) fruits/vegetables. Don’t forget to bring a reusable bag to fill!
*** Those of you who have connections to farms or fisheries that are willing to donate chicken, beef, pork, eggs, crab, or fish, please contact Lauren directly at 503-688-8138 or email to lauren.e.mehnert@gmail.com. These larger donations will be picked up ahead of the event, divided and bagged and put into a deep freezer for ease of grabbing out of the coolers at the event. ***

Own a restaurant or food cart? Want to help?

Contact me! We’re looking for some local spots to donate some small bite items that are grab and go. Folks can grab a small plate and sit and chat with fellow community members after filling their bags. I would love to see what our local chefs come up with!

Don’t have food to donate but want to send a donation?

Great! Please contact me directly for donation information. Cash donations for this event are going to be used for bags and other items needed for the event itself, printing costs for handouts, and bulk items not yet purchased. All money left is going to be donated directly to the school district to pay off past due lunch balances and support the weekend food bag program.

Want to help outside of this?

Awesome! Contact me! I will need help with directing folks, setting up, and loading items inside – please contact Lauren directly at 503-688-8138 or email to lauren.e.mehnert@gmail.com.

Many hardworking folks in our community right now are not eligible for SNAP but need some help. As someone who needed to utilize the local pantries in the past, I have to say, I have been disappointed. The lack of protein and fresh foods is palpable. Those who are diabetic, disabled, and those with food allergies are getting left behind in our community. We are forgetting that people need more than a box of Hamburger Helper and a can of expired peas. We ALL deserve good, nutrient rich food, not just in a holiday box but throughout the upcoming winter season.
HUGE THANKS to Janmarie Nugent and allowing me to use the gym at the school to host this event!!
Another massive thanks so far Dave’s Killer Bread, Butler Foods, Josi Farms, Brickyard Farms, Smith Brothers (Alpenrose), and Real Good Foods!