Little food pantries boosted by Washington inmate carpenters

BREMERTON — Darla Bradish’s idea of placing little pantries filled with nonperishable food in east Bremerton neighborhoods got a boost from prison inmates in Mason County, who are turning out well-crafted pantries.

She has two in mobile home parks that she manages, Steele Creek and Kariotis, and has her eye on two more sites in west Bremerton and Silverdale. But she has seven of the pantries on hand and three more being built.

She started the push to post the pantries near the end of last year, an idea that came from the little libraries neighbors have posted in their neighborhoods to share books. Her work as a property manager also showed her the need: She has seen the squeeze working people feel trying to make ends meet.

What also motivated her was the idea of offering something to people that came without any qualification requirements or strings attached.

“This one pulled at my heart because people didn’t have to ask for it,” she said, noting that some people in need aren’t comfortable seeking out services

After word spread of the efforts of Bradish and her husband, John, the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton got involved. The inmates repurposed materials recycled from an Olympic College construction education program to make the little pantries.

Bradish marvels at the quality of the pantries.

“I didn’t expect them to put so much care in them,” Bradish said. “They put a lot of love in this project.”