The site also features a free community garden, offering fresh produce when available. Everyone is welcome, no questions asked. The Tiny Free Pantry began its life as a symbol of shared knowledge and community connection. Originally created to serve Oroville as a Tiny Free Library, it was constructed and inaugurated in the fall of 2019. Designed and built by Jarold Stokes of Custom Creations, the
little library offered donated books freely to anyone who wished to borrow them, reflecting a belief in access, learning, and neighborly care. In March of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and economic hardship spread rapidly through the community, it became clear that the need for food access was growing just as urgently as the need for books. Celia Hirschman, the owner and steward of the Tiny Free Library, made the compassionate decision to transform it into a Tiny Free Pantry.
“I’d like the pantry to serve the community until the great need has subsided,” Ms. Hirschman shared at the time. From that moment forward, the pantry became a lifeline. It has been restocked multiple times daily depending on need and sustained through a powerful network of community care. The pantry has been supported by a group of dedicated “Giving Partners,” individuals and organizations who commit to donating at least $10 per week on a designated day, along with an average of 20 additional weekly donations. From the beginning, the Tiny Free Pantry has been, and remains, a true community-led effort. In keeping with that spirit, Ms. Hirschman later donated the Tiny Free Pantry to Oro Vista Baptist Church, ensuring its continued presence and impact in the community. The pantry was relocated from Downtown Oroville to the Southside of Oroville, where it now lives one of the city’s most economically impacted neighborhoods. Today, the Tiny Free Pantry – Southside (24/7) is located at:
2725 Florence Ave
Oroville, CA 95966
The pantry remains free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, operating on the same access model it has always upheld. No sign-ups, no barriers, and no questions asked. It continues to stand as a quiet but powerful testament to mutual aid, dignity, and the belief that neighbors take care of one another. any questions or concerns please contact us 530-907-7882
