‘Take what you need, leave what you can’: Windsor resident creates front lawn food pantry

The ‘front lawn food bank’ in the Remington Park area in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (Stefanie Masotti/CTV News Windsor)

An unexpected sight in the Remington Park area is bringing residents together to help those in need of food.

“We saw somebody digging through our garbage,” said Kaitlyn Ferrari. “We went to approach her. She took off.”

Ferrari felt compelled to help. She grabbed a piece of cardboard and marker and wrote ‘Food pantry. Take what you need, leave what you can.’

The ‘front lawn food bank’ started one week ago and has been a success. Donations of all sorts piling in so she decided to officially launch Belle’s kitchen cupboard.

“I’ve always had this idea of doing a neighborhood pantry,” Ferrari explained. “I just never really did it. I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner. When this happened that was my sign to do it immediately.”

She says they are in desperate need of a secondary fridge and freezer as their personal ones are filled with donations.

Ferrari is encouraging anyone who can donate to reach out.

“People are always really grateful and thankful,” she said. “It’s really good knowing that even if you made somebody’s day a little bit better and a little bit easier and took a little bit of stress off of somebody because they now know where their next skill is coming from it, it’s a good feeling.”