BOONE, N.C. — It was a tearful moment for Brittney Tensi when Cheryl Hart arrived at the Little Free Pantry of Boone. She felt compelled to give her a hug. Hart came to stock up on some items for her family before another round of winter weather hits.
"How do you describe a miracle in a box? It's a lifesaver," Hart said.
It saves a lot of people, she says. She had to say "Thank you." It was a special moment pantry founder Tensi says that happened just minutes after she refilled the box. When she arrived the box was empty.
"This is actually one of the barest days I have ever seen," Tensi said.
It was filled by her friend just days ago. Now, she's filling it again before the next storm hits.
"We do try to fill up before a storm, so if they can't get to a grocery store they can come here," Tensi said.
They fill it with a little bit of everything.
"This is also mine and my husband's food budget," Tensi said.
She and her husband use their own money to fill it up. They both suffered from food insecurity when they were younger. Her mother was on WIC and did not want people to know.
"We would go to the grocery store late at night so no one would see her using it," Tensi said.
This free pantry is anonymous and available to anyone who needs it.
"I would say most people who are locals at least know firsthand what that's like or know someone who knows what that is like," Tensi said.
The pantry accepts all donations to help fill it as often as possible. You can contact the pantry about donations on its Facebook page.
