Stoughton eighth-grader helping to feed the poor with an idea inspired by local libraries

STOUGHTON, Mass. — You may have seen community libraries where people can leave books or take them for free from a little cabinet or cubby. Well one eighth-grader is using that concept to help feed the poor.

On the side of Route 138 in Stoughton outside a rental store you’ll notice a bright blue pantry. What started as a school project turned into something much more.

All inspired by eighth-grader Julie Powers.

“My mom told me a story about how my grandfather would come home hungry, and it just sounded horrible, I don’t think anyone should go home hungry like that,” she said.

Julie decided to create a community pantry to make sure no one goes hungry in the area.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” said her mother, Karen. “The dedication. It’s taken over a year to get this done.”

Julie needed to get the town’s approval as well as clearance from the Board of Health to make it all happen. But once the cabinet was donated, her family was able to gather as many non-perishables as they could to fill the pantry.

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“The town of Stoughton and Sharon all came together, they got us tons of cans,” Karen said. “We would drive to people’s houses and pick up bags of cans.”

The concept is simple: anyone can come and donate food or toiletries and just place it in the pantry. That way all the items will be there for anyone in need.

“It’s a place where people can just come and say, ‘okay I just need to get something for tonight or something to get me through the next few days,’” Karen explained.

It’s a simple way to make it easier to give back and take as needed.

“The hope is that we come here and we don’t see it full,” Karen said. “We want to see it empty because that means people are using it and that’s the hope. If we come here and it’s full then we did it for nothing.”

Julie hopes people will donate there as well and that one day this idea catches on in other towns.

“I think what we really want is for people to make these things themselves,” she said. “To hopefully get with a group or even by yourself, get some money, make more of these and spread the message.”

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