On Nov. 24, the Monday before Thanksgiving, the East Side Pantry officially opened its doors to the public. The small storage shed located at 65 Fairground Road across the street from Pioneer Park in East Quincy is unassuming from the outside, but is playing a vital role in the fight against food insecurity in Plumas County.
The East Side Pantry is a free “take what you need, leave what you can” community food pantry. Inspired by the Little Free Library concept, the Little Free Pantry movement is a grassroots, crowd-sourced response to poverty and food insecurity within neighborhoods across the United States. Minipantries provide easy and anonymous access to help eliminate barriers. The model relies on a reciprocal cycle of community support.
Since the East Side Pantry opened, it has seen a steady stream of visitors, according to organizers Danielle Blust, Kristy Tucker and Shelby Janea. Because it is not staffed and is available 24/7, they don’t have an exact count on the numbers, but they report that many community members have expressed their appreciation openly. The community has also stepped up to support the pantry and keep it well stocked. Both individuals and businesses have contributed almost constantly, leaving everything from canned goods and infant formula to snack items and survival blankets on the shelves.
A grassroots response to food insecurity
The story of East Side Pantry’s creation is the story of three local women who saw a painful gap and decided to fill it. Blust, Tucker and Janea started the pantry during a time of fear and uncertainty in the community. It was fall 2025. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history brought with it job furloughs, paycheck pauses and a disruption in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
For residents of Plumas County, these disruptions raised very real concerns. According to Feeding America, Plumas County has a food insecurity rate of 13.4%, affecting approximately 2,500 residents. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as limited or uncertain access to adequate food due to lack of money or resources. Plumas County’s rate is higher than both the California state average of 10.2% and the national average of 10.9%, making our local community particularly vulnerable to even minor halts in food assistance.
For the East Side Pantry Girls, as the trio of Blust, Tucker and Janea call themselves, this vulnerability was a call to action. All three women have a deep connection to this project.
Quincy native Blust has been coordinating with the Plumas County Public Health Agency since she did her Quincy Junior-Senior High School senior project on alcohol and drug prevention in 2015. She now works with the agency in a professional capacity, providing those in active addiction and recovery with resources, education and support. Through her work, she is intimately aware of the challenges and difficulties inherent in accessing stability in our small rural community.
Blust has also experienced the stigma and shame that can come with food insecurity. “I remember being a young single mom in my early 20s, struggling to feed myself and feeling discouraged from using additional resources because of the fear of judgment and disappointment from others in the community,” Blust said. “Later, while working with lower-income community members during a time when EBT [SNAP] access was being threatened, I wanted to make sure everyone could access food without fear of judgment or shame.”
Tucker, a certified nursing assistant and health education specialist at the public health agency, feels the same. “I’ve lived in Quincy for more than 30 years. My three children were born and raised here, and this community has shaped every part of who I am.”
“Access to food is a constant barrier to well-being.”
Kristy Tucker, East Side Pantry co-organizer
Tucker’s vision for the East Side Pantry arose from her own struggles raising children on a low income, and her health education work with the most vulnerable members of the community. “I’m out there every day listening to people’s real struggles,” she said. “Access to food is a constant barrier to well-being. I heard what our clients were saying, and I wanted to be part of the solution.”
Janea, the third piece of the puzzle, is a more recent transplant to Plumas County. She moved here six years ago, and is the host and founder of “A Girl Business Podcast,” which showcases women in business across Northern California; most are Plumas County residents. She came across the Little Free Pantry concept while researching for her podcast, and was struck by the idea that Quincy, with its rural infrastructure and population, would be a perfect location to start one up.
“I would let the thought pass, but it kept coming back to me so often I knew I needed to act on it,” Janea said. She made a post about the idea on Facebook, asking for suggestions. Tucker responded almost instantly, explaining that she and Blust had been entertaining the same thought. “The girls and I quickly joined forces and mapped out the location and other logistics,” Janea said.
The nuts and bolts of a Little Free Pantry
The women started with a location. For many, the neighborhoods of East Quincy are prohibitively far from the Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center and food bank services in downtown Quincy, creating what is essentially a food desert for those struggling and in need of assistance. Tucker had a street-fronting spot available in East Quincy near the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds and Pioneer Park. It was a location that would provide access to essentials for those unable to make the trek over the hill.
“No grants, no nonprofit status, just neighbors coming together to support one another.”
Kristy Tucker, East Side Pantry co-organizer
The East Side Pantry is completely community-led, community-funded and community-sustained. That means, in the words of Tucker, “no grants, no nonprofit status, just neighbors coming together to support one another.” Initial structure costs were provided out of pocket, as the women pooled their resources to order a weather-resistant shed from Amazon and set up shelving and cabinets.
In order to stock shelves for the first time, the East Side Pantry Girls relied on food donations from the community, fleshed out by additional items they purchased themselves. As things have progressed, the pantry has become almost entirely community-supported. “We continue to do what we can out of pocket, but it has been in large part sustained by the community, and for that we are incredibly grateful,” Janea said. “Anytime we have expressed a need, the community has come together. This has included not just ongoing food donations, but also a second cabinet, other shelving, lighting, and can openers.”
Janea, Blust and Tucker regularly check in to reorganize and tidy the incoming donations. There is also a lot happening behind the scenes.
Tucker and Blust, with their community connections and in-depth understanding of food insecurity, engage in public outreach and networking for the pantry. Janea brings tech savvy and a bevy of skills in the areas of video editing, content creation and social media; she currently manages the group’s Facebook page, which has played a huge role in garnering community interest and support. The Facebook reel announcing East Side Pantry’s opening currently has well over 10,000 views.
“Just when the pantry starts to get low, another donation is received, and the cycle has continued.”
Shelby Janea, East Side Pantry co-organizer
The women say they are overjoyed by the community response. “It was immediate and continues to be inspiring and something we are forever grateful for,” Janea said. The pantry has received food, toys, hygiene products, clothes, cleaning supplies and diapers, and has remained constantly stocked. “Just when the pantry starts to get low, another donation is received, and the cycle has continued,” she said.
Blust agrees: “We’ve seen an incredible response from the community, so many people expressing appreciation and gratitude. The generosity has been overwhelming, with donations coming not only from individuals but also from local businesses who believe in and support the pantry.”
The importance of community-led support systems
The East Side Pantry Girls see Little Free Pantry projects as part of a larger and much-needed organic movement toward community-led support systems. According to Blust, food insecurity is increasing nationwide, and rural counties like Plumas are disproportionately affected. A lack of funding and infrastructure makes it difficult for locals to access resources, forcing community members to rely on each other instead of outside entities.
“Grassroots movements and community-led projects like East Side Pantry are especially important in rural communities like ours, where access to affordable food options is limited,” Blust said.
“One thing about Quincy is that we come together and we always make sure our people are taken care of.”
Danielle Blust, East Side Pantry co-organizer
While small town life can be limiting, it can also be a source of tremendous strength. “One thing about Quincy is that we come together, and we always make sure our people are taken care of,” said Blust. “Community-driven initiatives like this fill gaps, provide support without barriers or stigma, respond quickly to local needs and foster connection and care among neighbors. They make a real difference in people’s daily lives while strengthening the fabric of the community.”
For Janea, the East Side Pantry is just the beginning — one small step in a larger movement toward localized, community-sustained support. “I believe we will continue to see more community-led systems begin to emerge,” Janea said. “At a time when so much feels uncertain, this pantry has shown that community is a powerful way to uplift one another and come together in a positive way.”
“Watching our neighbors care for one another has been the most beautiful part of all.”
Kristy Tucker, East Side Pantry co-organizer
The effects of grassroots support systems can be far-reaching. Not only do they increase the physical health and well-being of the community through food access, they also increase mental and emotional well-being by contributing to a sense of safety and connection. For those who struggle with marginalization due to poverty, disability and lack of resources, the embrace of the community can be life-changing. “Watching our neighbors care for one another has been the most beautiful part of all,” said Tucker.
The East Side Pantry Girls aren’t resting on their current success. They recently began fundraising for a second shed so that they can have a separate designated space for non-food items such as diapers, hygiene kits, blankets and clothes. This expansion will allow for more food space, which they have faith will quickly fill with incoming donations. They have currently raised $50 of their $200 goal, and welcome donations from the public.
