This bright purple Free Little Library at 209 Root Road now houses non-perishable food items for the community to share. (MANDI RODRIGUEZ PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Last fall, Mandi Rodriguez created a Free Little Library outside of All Stars Dance Center, and last week, turned it into a Free Little Pantry.
The bright purple “library” includes two shelves that were once filled with books. Today, it’s filled with food.
At the start of the winter, the library was knocked down during the first snowstorm. Rodriguez, with help from her husband and brother, reinstalled the library last week.
All Stars Dance Center owner Kim Starsiak said the switch from library to pantry began with a few jars of peanut butter and jelly. Her dance students collected over 400 jars the week before COVID-19 really began to hit home. They donated the jars to the Westfield food pantry, but the donations kept coming in and Starsiak kept finding more jars.
“I put a few jars on the top shelf of the library,” said Starsiak. “Then Mandi added some canned goods.”
Once Rodriguez posted the pantry photos on Facebook, the donations started coming in quickly and now the entire library has become a pantry.
From canned goods to fresh eggs donated by Lafreniere Farm, the pantry has free food for those in need. Residents who could use something are encouraged to stop by and take what they need and others are encouraged to stop by and leave items for others.
“Our entire building is closed right now, so it’s a quiet, safe place to go to,” said Starsiak of the pantry at 209 Root Road.
Rodriguez visits the pantry every day and wipes down everything inside to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. She said from creating the library to now sharing food with neighbors, she couldn’t ask for a better way to connect with the community.
“We chose this location to donate the free little library to for many reasons,” said Rodriguez, noting that the city’s infant-toddler intervention program, Thom, is also in the same building as All Stars.
“Thom helped my daughter so much as a baby — helped diagnosis her CP and so much more. Kim Starsiak at All Stars is one of the many reasons why my Lilly is so strong and has come so far! Without Kim she wouldn’t be halfway to where she is today and for her we are blessed and wanted to give back,” said Rodriguez, referring to her daughter who has some special needs.
“There is also Roots day care where my son Reese attended as a toddler and Roots Gymnastics is there as well. So many kids pass through those doors, they deserve something special for them to share with one another,” Rodriguez said. “Not to mention the elderly in the area is profound as I grew up on Egleston Road — my grandpa is Ronald Egleston. I knew it was the perfect location.”
Rodriguez spearheaded the effort to construct a playground in Westfield for children of all abilities. She said creating the library/pantry is another way to help her community.
“We were so blessed to have the materials donated by the Lumber Center as my stepmom used to work there and she had asked if they could help,” Rodriguez said of the library. “We had materials donated from Home Depot for the post as well and my husband and I painted it, added the decor with help from my kids to pick the very best reading quotes and so many book donations from our community. I mean, I had boxes of books in my hall, shed, and basement.”
Rodriguez was thrilled when they were able to put the library back in place, and even happier when it morphed into a pantry temporarily.
“Now I am so happy to be able to get it back up with the help from my brother who stabilized it after the plows knocked it down. Now all these donations for non-perishable items. My heart’s so big, I needed to pass the time while waiting for my All Inclusive Playground dream to come to light,” she said.
Rodriguez said she gives back because she has been blessed by others.
“I try to help my community when I can because as a special needs family, we have been helped along the way by so many,” said Rodriguez. “To me, it’s the least I can do to give back. My dad always taught me growing up to be kind and take care of others when you can. He is why I have such a big heart,” she said, noting that her father, who owned Creative Temp Service, died when she was 19.
