Shelter Cove library proposes 'Stone Soup' pantry to store and distribute donated food from community clubhouse

Shelter Cove library head Cynthia Eden on Tuesday proposed creating a small, volunteer-run food pantry called the Stone Soup Pantry in an unused storage room at the community clubhouse, asking the Resort Improvement District board to approve temporary use of the space and direct staff to work out access agreements.

Eden said volunteers have been collecting donations and distributing food since July, working with Food for People’s monthly deliveries. She said the effort grew from serving about 10 households to roughly 25 residents and now sometimes includes fresh produce and dairy, and the group also shares information about local services such as a mobile clinic. The program would use an existing refrigerator and make distributions once or twice a month during normal library hours, with only volunteers accessing the storage area; recipients would be served one at a time.

Board members and staff asked about liability and safety. Chris, the district’s general manager, said the board previously passed a 2021 resolution providing workers’ compensation coverage that would cover authorized agency volunteers; staff advised meeting with the library volunteers to develop a written plan and an agreement. Nick, the district’s safety/staff representative, noted the proposed room is not presently configured as a storage room and lacks a monitored fire alarm system; he recommended staff meet with the library crew to clear the space and create a safety plan before final approval.

Public commenters broadly supported the pantry but debated whether the clubhouse is the best long-term location. Resident Jack Hargrave recommended a church location instead, citing competing uses for the clubhouse; other residents urged the board to approve the pantry as a way to meet year-round food needs. Eden said the intent is to create a permanent service if a long-term space can be found but acknowledged the specific clubhouse room would be temporary if remodeling occurs.

The board agreed the pantry concept fills a real need in Shelter Cove and directed staff to draft an agreement and return the item for action at a future meeting, after meeting with volunteer coordinators and addressing the safety and written-agreement concerns. No final authorization to occupy the room was granted at the meeting.

The district provided a staff recommendation to consider approval of a temporary library-affiliated pantry and to direct staff to work on establishing the space and volunteer agreement; the board asked staff to return with a written plan that addresses fire-safety upgrades, limited access and storage protections for other groups’ property.

The next procedural step is for staff to meet with Cynthia Eden and library volunteers, draft a written agreement and a safety/operations plan, then bring the item back for a formal board action.