Agnew’s Little Free Pantry is close to expansion at the Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1033 Barr Road.

Last week, organizers received $2,500 from Molina Healthcare to help with construction costs of a storage building. In total, organizers say they’ve raised $10,250 for what they call a Social Justice Building to house food, books for the fellowship’s free library, gifts for foster children and to host other projects to help the community.

“We know we’ve helped families and those who are unhoused (with the pantry),” said Florence Bucierka, a pantry volunteer. “Every day there’s something taken from it.”

The pantry opened in September 2020 to help locals during the pandemic and in the future with the motto: “Take what you need; give what you can.”

Items are available 24/7, organizers said.

Volunteers have done most of the work on the 12-foot-by-20-foot storage building, with a dedication ceremony tentatively set soon.

Bucierka said the Kiwanis Club of the Sequim-Dungeness helped the fellowship purchase a refrigerator for the building for storing fresh fruits and vegetables.

She said they connected with Molina Healthcare to receive tote bags for the annual Community Resource Connections, formerly Homeless Connect event, and then they received hand sanitizers for distribution in the free pantry before receiving the donation.

Donny Guerrero, Molina’s community engagement specialist, said the company looks to provide funding where there is need and help the community fill gaps when possible.

To make a monetary donation to the Little Free Pantry, send support to: Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, P.O. Box 576, Carlsborg, WA 98234, with check subject line indicating “Little Free Pantry.”

For more information, visit olympicuuf.com, email to Admin@OlympicUUF.com or call 360-417-2665.

Barr Road’s Little Free Pantry is available 24/7 and will soon have storage for more items once a building is complete in the near future.