Empathy & Equity Box Debuts at ELPL

What is the Empathy & Equity Box?

This is an anonymously accessible pantry for anyone in need to pick up food, school supplies, personal care products, and information about local crisis intervention programs.

We've partnered with Adriana Flores, who created the Empathy and Equity Box to provide hygiene products to neighbors in need. The first E² Box was installed at Edgewood Village Network Center in August 2017, and we were proud to rename our own needs pantry as E² Box #2!

Who Built It?

The construction of our E² Box was truly a community effort! ELPL Teen Librarian Jessica Lee-Cullin presented the project proposal to the Michigan Library Association's 2016 Library Soup program and won a grant to make it a reality; C2AE, a Grand Rapids-based architecture, engineering, and infrastructure design firm, donated their time and talents to provide us with a design for the pantry; East Lansing's Department of Parks & Facilities delivered the parts; local engineers Ashley and Ryan Julien donated their skills and labor to construct the pantry; volunteers from MSU and East Lansing High School helped paint it; ELPL's Jason Shoup and Emily Adams put on the finishing touches; and East Lansing's Department of Public Works completed the installation.

Who Can Contribute?

The East Lansing Public Library is collaborating with members of our community, including faith-based organizations such as the Islamic Center of East Lansing and crisis intervention programs such as Gateway Youth Services, to keep our box stocked.

We also welcome contributions of nonperishable food items, school supplies, and personal hygiene products from individual donors -- like you!

If you have questions about the Empathy & Equity box or have a large amount of items you would like to donate please reach out to library staff at 517-351-2420