OROVILLE — On the corner of Montgomery and First streets stands an 1899 Victorian Queen Anne home and just outside its fence is a Little Free Library that reflects the architecture of the home behind it.
“I had seen tiny libraries all over the country and all over the world. There are about 92,000 of them, and I just thought it would be something Oroville would appreciate and they have – in big measure,” said Celia Hirschman, home and tiny library owner.
Hirschman had the Little Free Library built and install by Jarold Stokes in 2019. She filled it with books and an open invitation to take a book and leave a book. She supplied some of the books but pretty soon neighbors were dropping off books.
Each book was stamped with this notation: This book is part of the Oroville Tiny Free Library Montgomery Street Collection. Please enjoy reading it and return it or donate another and if you accidentally trash or lose book it’s OK just bring another.
While the library was “hugely popular” and “well used,” when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hirschman, an 11-year Oroville resident, transformed the tiny library into a tiny pantry.
“In March as soon as COVID started and the numbers of unemployed began escalating, I decided to begin a tiny pantry,” said Hirschman.
Transforming the miniature Queen Anne structure from library to pantry was a simple job. Hirschman removed the glass doors so the pantry would be completely open then; she took out the books and replaced them with canned and boxed food staples.
The need Hirschman predicted was accurate. Within a few days people were coming to take food they needed while others were dropping off food to share. Hirschman soon found herself restocking the tiny pantry three to four times a day.
“There’s a misconception that if you do something like this that vagrants and the unhoused are going to descend on your life, your home, and destroy it. Ridiculous. I’ve met about 60 people who have come for food. They are everyday Americans – families, single people, disabled, people working for minimum wage, some unhoused, the whole gamut. They are just trying to get by,” said Hirschman.
While Hirschman is thrilled to be helping others in their time of need restocking the tiny pantry several times a day for three months did strain her budget so she put out a request for “giving friends” on Facebook.
“I just said that I was looking for a few special volunteers to help by committing to bringing $10 worth of food a week on a day of their convenience, so we can have consistent supplies on hand. I am happy to store excess when the pantry is full but we have such a great need, supplies go quickly,” she said.
Within just a week Hirschman had eight giving partners ready to help.
“There’s a need and I can help. Isn’t helping others, isn’t giving back to our community, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? There’s a need and I can afford $10 a week for others to eat,” said Nancy Spranger Rivera, one of Hirschman’s new giving partners.
In addition to canned and boxed staples the tiny pantry also offers some personal care and paper products but food is it’s main purpose. The Butte County Local Food Network has donated packets of seeds through its S.O.S. (Save our Seeds) program so if people have space they can grow their own food.
“It’s the kindness of strangers, those who are community oriented who are going to help others so we can get through this. It is my hope that when others see and hear about my tiny pantry that they open pantries in their yards. It’s a simple thing to do, and there is great need everywhere,” said Hirschman.
To learn more about how to create a tiny library or pantry or to donate to the Montgomery Street Tiny Pantry contact Hirschman via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/celia.hirschman.