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Help Alvin keep the Open Hands Pantry pantry stocked

Help keep a free food pantry open for elderly neighbors in Södertälje.

🇸🇪 Stockholm, Sweden782 views
Alvin Sjögren
Email verifiedAddress verified
Södertälje
Since 2022, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Saturday from the back of the old library basement. We started with 8 families, and now we feed 183 each week. Donations have dropped by about 34% this rainy season, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 8 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Södertälje market and keep every receipt. Each $50 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $2,100 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $780 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $910 • Baby formula and diapers: $240 • Refrigeration and electricity: $170 With deep gratitude, Alvin

Updates from Alvin

  1. Wanted to say thank you properly. 14% funded and I made the first payment toward baby formula and diapers.

  • Anonymous 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Nadav Avraham Shapiro 🇮🇱 · $50
  • Craig Green 🇺🇸 · $75

    “Hang in there. From Tacoma with love.”

  • Leonardo A. Moreno 🇬🇧 · $5
  • Gareth Moodley 🇿🇦 · $25
  • Majid Ziad Kassem 🇲🇦 · $58
  • Zoey S. Gregory 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Thought of Alvin all day after reading this. - Austin”

  • Nuria P. Santos 🇺🇸 · $4
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $100
  • Anonymous 🇵🇭 · $100
  • Javier E. Rodríguez 🇪🇸 · $100

Reviews

3.1(10 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Caleb P. Silva🇺🇸Verified helper
    Very responsive and caring

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Liliana K. Cabrera🇲🇽Verified helper
    Restored my faith in humanity

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

  • Jenny M. De Leon🇵🇭Verified donor
    Honest and trustworthy

    I can't speak highly enough about this helper. They were available when I needed them, supportive when I felt lost, and practical in their solutions.

  • Oliver T. Richardson🇺🇸Verified helper
    Quick response, great follow-up

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

  • Dong-hyun Joon-woo Jang🇰🇷Verified donor
    Changed my perspective

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Daiki Ryota Shimizu🇯🇵Verified donor
    Exactly what I needed

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Anton Werner Beck🇩🇪Verified helper
    Practical and effective help

    I was skeptical at first, but this person proved to be reliable and genuinely interested in helping. Their response time was incredible and their solutions were practical.

  • Gabriel J. Ramos🇺🇸Verified helper
    Made me feel heard

    I was struggling and didn't know where to turn. This person stepped in without hesitation and provided exactly what I needed. Their compassion and expertise made all the difference in my life.

  • Zeeshan Haris Rehman🇵🇰Verified donor
    Practical and effective help

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

  • Bianca Laura Orlando🇮🇹Verified donor
    Practical and effective help

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

Questions & comments

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  • thinking of you. More neighborhoods should do this. Put this on a community board in Birmingham this morning

    • thanks for sharing this, Alvin. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer.

      • Hope things get better soon, Alvin. Your post was clear and honest

        • how is Alvin doing now?

          • keep going, Alvin. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. Take care

            • Is there anything that isn't money that would help Alvin?

              • Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Love from Manila.

                • Praying for you. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Love from Jakarta Barat

                  • Take care. Hope this works out for you. We had a similar scare last year, I know what it feels like. All the best

                    • Daniel Fábio SantosID verifiedPhoto verified

                      shared this with my family. My husband and I read this together. Greetings from Winston-Salem.

                      • Thinking of you. I hope things turn around soon. We're a small family in Mumbai but we're thinking of you. Greetings from Mumbai!

                        • sending strength. It takes guts to ask. Well done. My neighbor had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. God bless.

                          $577 raised of $2,100

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