Lil' Pantry of Mount Vernon

10/07/2025

The Lil' Pantry has one big need right now: green beans! Aldi's has the cheapest price (Happy Harvest brand) in town. Starting to run low on soups, but we're hanging in there! We are definitely seeing more children and young couples with small children at the pantry, so thank you for all of your support! One young mother said, "Just knowing this is here helps me to breathe a bit. I don't feel panicked all the time."

10/04/2025

Happy Weekend, everyone! When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I pick ONE thing and commit to working on it for 30 minutes. Amazingly, that motivates me to keep going!

09/28/2025

Thank you, Shepherd's House!

09/28/2025

Happy Sunday, everyone! In the past week, two people contacted me because they had placed a sizable donation directly into the Lil' Pantry, only to find it gone when they drove by shortly thereafter. They were worried it had been cleaned out. And, rightfully, so! But, NO. When that happens, WE immediately remove everything, bring it into the house to make sure it's all good (no expired, damaged, or hazardous items), and then we feed the items out to the pantry gradually to spread the love around.

However, I want everyone to know that, in my experience of running this pantry for 3+ years, total cleanouts do not happen. We have 30 - 50 unique visitors to the pantry every 24 hours (and they are different each day), and they ONLY take what they NEED.

On a related note, I've had people tell me, "Yah, our church tried to do a free food pantry once, but every time we put out food, it was taken immediately." I always ask, "By the same person?" And they say, "We have no way of knowing, but it was always empty, so we just stopped doing it. People are selfish." Well, I DO have a way of knowing. All activity is 100% monitored and recorded. If you have an empty food pantry, it's because you have NEED. You stop running a food pantry because the food doesn't stick around? That makes NO sense whatsoever!

OK, my Sunday morning sermon is over. If you have a small, safe, unexpired donation, put it directly into the pantry. But if you have a large donation, please put it on the porch. I'm going to pull it inside anyway. AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for those large donations! You feed MANY different people with those donations, not just one selfish person. Trust me! ;-)

09/22/2025

We received wonderful donations over the past week that filled most of our gaps! Thanks SO much for all your support! We are running low on Ramen Noodles and Knorr's Side Dishes, like rice and noodles. Both are on our Amazon Wish List, the link to which can be found here: https://lilpantrymountvernon.com/needs/

09/17/2025

Folks, I'm already having problems with a few children. Yesterday, two elementary-age girls (one with dark hair, the other blonde) came by on their bikes, opened a can of sardines, threw it in the yard, and pedaled away. I have video of them doing this last week, too, so this is not the first time they've wasted food for no reason. Other children are taking snacks (which is fine) and then throwing the containers and wrappers on the ground further down the road.

All activity at the pantry is videotaped, so I know who is causing problems. MANY children use the pantry without incident, but there are a few kids who consistently cause problems. Please know that I will not tolerate disrespect, waste, littering, or vandalism to this pantry or my property. I closed the pantry two years ago because of unruly, disrespectful children (many of whom, ironically, NEEDED and USED the food from the pantry). Talk to your children! The Lil' Pantry isn't a toy. It's a serious resource for families, the elderly, people with disabilities, and others who need supplemental support.

09/15/2025

Here are this week's pressing needs at the Lil' Pantry:

- Tomato soup
- Rice
- Canned Carrots or Mixed Vegetables
- Kidney beans
- Sardines or Tuna
- Feminine products (pads are also useful for elderly patrons of the pantry who need them for bladder control issues)

For a complete list of items we always need, check out https://www.lilpantrymountvernon.com/needs and thanks for your support!

Drop all unused, unopened donations at 11 Sychar Road in Mount Vernon. If you have a few items, feel free to place them directly into the pantry. Drop larger donations on the front porch. Surveillance alerts us to all drop-offs (24 hours per day). NO glass containers. NO drugs or alcohol. We have an

09/15/2025

Learning how to cook a roux is great when you have a limited budget! You can turn simple, low-cost ingredients into substantial, flavorful, and filling meals. It is an affordable way to add richness, texture, and body to dishes, stretching resources to create more satisfying food.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJsbdIu2foQ

1. Creates full, satisfying meals

A thickened gravy or sauce can make a simple dish, such as rice or beans, feel much more substantial and satisfying.

Adding a gravy made from a roux to a dish with a small amount of meat, like sausage and rice, can make the whole meal feel richer and more complete.

2. Uses low-cost, readily available ingredients

The essential ingredients for a roux (equal parts fat and flour) are inexpensive staples that most people have on hand.

The fat can be a cheap cooking oil, but it can also be bacon drippings, lard, or fat rendered from meat that would otherwise be thrown away. This transforms what might be discarded into a foundation for a rich gravy.

All-purpose flour is one of the most affordable and common pantry items, making it accessible to most budgets.

A roux is a perfect way to turn day-old leftovers or a simple broth into a delicious new meal. For example, adding milk or leftover broth to a roux can create a creamy white sauce for a vegetable casserole.

After cooking meat, the flavorful drippings left in the pan can be combined with flour to make a roux, which then becomes a flavorful gravy.

A roux helps bind ingredients in casseroles and soups, making them less watery and more uniform. This helps to make a dish out of a random collection of low-cost ingredients.

Here are some ways a roux is used to create hearty and flavorful dishes from simple ingredients:

Sausage gravy: Made with cheap sausage drippings, flour, and milk, this inexpensive gravy is a staple of many low-budget Southern meals.

Macaroni and cheese: One of the most popular and affordable comfort foods uses a simple, light roux (called a béchamel) as its base. The roux is combined with milk and cheese to create a creamy sauce for macaroni.

Gumbo: In Creole and Cajun cooking, a dark, flavorful roux is a staple for making gumbo. The roux provides a deep, nutty flavor that is essential for this popular dish.

Creamed soups: A roux can turn a simple stock and some leftover vegetables into a rich, creamy soup without the need for expensive cream. Learning

Sauce series!https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR5j3Yco/Basic Chicken stock!https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR56jBRj/ The Professional Chef Downloadable PDF 👇 https://dr...

09/12/2025

Thank you to all who attended the craft supply fundraiser last weekend, and thank you to Indivisible Knox County for all your efforts! $435 was raised for the Lil' Pantry, and we sure appreciate the support!

09/06/2025

You could replace the tuna in this recipe with canned chicken. Thank you to the folks who donated both canned tuna and canned chicken to the Lil' Pantry this week! Protein is so critical. Two different visitors to the pantry told us that they've been surviving on one meal per day for quite some time, and they are thankful to have access to more food.

Tuna Veggie Stir-Fry This easy stir-fry combines tuna and vegetables and can be ready in less than 20 minutes! Skillet or WokSpoon 1 can tuna (5–6 oz, drained)3 cups mixed vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)2 tbsp soy sauce2 cups cooked rice or noodles1 tsp honey (optional) Heat vegetables in

09/03/2025

When you're struggling to feed a family, you need budget-friendly, easy recipes with simple ingredients. The Lil' Pantry website has a new recipes feature! I have posted two recipes today, but I have gathered HUNDREDS that I will share over time.

https://www.lilpantrymountvernon.com/recipes

These recipes include items commonly found in the Lil' Pantry, such as Hunt's 24 oz Traditional Spaghetti Sauce. If you have a recipe to share, send it to [email protected]. I hope you enjoy this new resource as we work together to make life easier!

09/02/2025

The new Lil' Pantry is being installed today! Everything should be fully operational by tomorrow morning. For those looking to donate, visit https://www.lilpantrymountvernon.com for details. Right now, we specifically need noodles of all kinds, spaghetti sauce (canned rather than glass...Hunt's, for example), canned corn, and canned fruits. Thanks, everyone!