When the COVID-19 pandemic along with the age of congregation members conspired to shutter the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Springfield, a challenge was thrown down for someone to build a micropantry in its stead.
Don Ecklund, who had built the first Little Free Library at his home in Leland Grove and is the church's Habitat For Humanity representative, stepped up.
A couple of weeks ago as Ecklund was installing the micropantry — designed to give people access to canned goods, box dinners and other food 24/7 — he got a surprise visitor and a helping hand: Linda Justice, who sometimes attends the church and is homeless and lives out of her car.