This portal connects people to community micro-pantries and fridges in the Puget Sound region so food can move quickly from neighbors who have extra to neighbors who need it.
We are a research team at the University of Washington collaborating with community partners to study how neighborhood micro-pantries support local food sharing. By working closely with communities, we aim to learn what helps community micro-pantries thrive and how they can be better supported. This project is sponsored by the National Science Foundation Civic Innovation Challenge.
Micro-pantries are independent, open-access, food pantries and fridges hosted on the public right-of-way and maintained by community members and local organizations. Neighbors and local businesses can leave food, and anyone who needs food can take what they need.
This portal helps connect people to nearby micro-pantries and shows what’s happening at each location in real time. Key features include:
Find community micro-pantries near you through an interactive web map.
Selected micro-pantries have been retrofitted with low-impact sensors to automatically detect the weight of food donated
A user-friendly guide provides you with resources to decide how, what, and when to donate
Pantry-specific pages allow you to report a donation or add items to the wishlist
If you notice an issue or have an update, use this form to report it—add a pantry, remove a pantry, or flag damaged equipment.
Update & Report Issue
