Litchfield trustees discuss little free food pantry proposed by resident

LITCHFIELD TWP. — A Litchfield Township resident recently proposed putting a free little food pantry box near town hall, which is now being discussed by the township trustees. A little free food pantry is a grassroots movement in which people in need can take donated food from a designated box. Kaittye Oberski and her son Koltyn presented their idea for the food pantry to the trustees at last month's meeting and expanded on the idea during Monday's meeting. "This all stemmed from people asking, 'Where is ours?'" she said. "Everybody else has one, and we have to leave our community to go and donate food for our community." Oberski said Koltyn and his group of homeschooled students agreed to stock the pantry once a week at least. Food drives would also be held during peak times when there is greater need. "The idea of a free little pantry is to take the stigma out of having to go and ask for help," she said. Trustee Mike Pope said after last month's presentation, he wanted to see what kind of liability the township could be in by having an unmonitored food pantry outside on township property. "I thought it was a great idea for somebody to want to put something like that out to help people that are less fortunate with free food," he said. "But, in the day and age it is, somebody would want to put something contaminated in there." The township's insurance company recommended the following be addressed in a written contract or memorandum of understanding: Who will be responsible for the structure on the property? Who will be responsible for checking and restocking the food in the structure? Who is going to be responsible for the integrity of the content inside the structure? "(The township's insurance company) would want (Oberski) to carry insurance to cover the township, in case anything ever happened from the food box," Pope said. There are also other food pantries that residents could go to near Litchfield and throughout Medina County where the food is not sitting outside, he said. "I want to thank you for protecting the community and protecting the interests of our community. That's your job, and I do appreciate that," Oberski said. "I wonder if there's some lost people that don't have travel opportunities. There isn't a bus that can take them to go get food." Pope said years ago, the township allowed a free little library on the property, so he questioned if that needs to be removed as well because it is similar in nature. Trustee Joe Seifert said the situation leads to asking, who does the township let do what, and how does the township make a decision? "As a township trustee, I don't have nearly the appetite for risk that I do as an individual person," he said. "If you came up to me, and I had a business right here on the circle, I'd probably let you put it up, but as a township trustee, I have way less risk tolerance." The trustees agreed to ask about the little free food pantry to the Medina County Prosecutor's Office with the goal of having an answer by next month's trustee meeting. "It is the trustees' responsibility first and foremost to protect the township," trustee Dennis Horvath said. "Sometimes people don't want to hear that. They have a great idea, but that is our responsibility gentlemen to protect the township at all times." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.