A grassroots item-donation program, known nationwide as The Little Free Pantry is coming to Cullman.

An nifty idea aimed at enlisting private community support to help neighbors in need got the go-ahead this week when the Cullman City Council gave its blessing to the program’s local sponsors.

The council voted unanimously Monday to permit Cullman residents Mary Hovater and Martha Lawrence to introduce a grassroots item-donation program, known nationwide as The Little Free Pantry, at a location in the southeast section of the city’s downtown district.

Sprung from a model first established in Little Rock, Arkansas, the idea behind the Pantry involves community giving on a small, convenient and judgment-free scale. The “pantry” is exactly what it sounds like: a small, easily-accessible outdoor box stocked with a supply of simple, nonperishable necessities provided at will by anyone who wishes to leave them for others to anonymously pick up.

“It’s basically neighbors helping neighbors,” Hovater told the council. “It would be supplied with canned foods and household items — the kind of stuff that people can leave or take as needed.”

Lawrence said the Pantry operates on the honor system, much like a book-swapping shelf at a coffee shop or library.

“This will be just a small, bookcase type of thing, where people can put nonperishable food items, shampoo, and hygiene or cleaning items as donations,” she said. “It will have a door, but it won’t have a lock on it. The idea is that you leave what you can, and take what you need.”

Cullman planning and zoning officials said the Pantry’s location, at the site of the former Bargain Town store in east Cullman, shouldn’t pose any logistical or legal issues, so long as it remains on private property and doesn’t interfere with established rights of way. Land for the project is being donated by Lawrence’s son Kolby.

Boy Scout Troop 321 and Scoutmaster David Schwaiger plan to construct the pantry box as a community project, said Hovater. It should be ready to roll out within the next 30 days. For its part, the city council will assess the program after it has operated for six months.

In other business at its regular meeting Monday, the council:

Passed a resolution to enter into a contract with Terracon Consultants, Inc. for testing at the site of the new Street Department facility for a budgeted amount not more than $28,000.

Passed a resolution to enter into a contract with TTL, Inc. for testing and surveying at the industrial tract on CR 222 for a budgeted amount not more than $7,860.

Passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Woody Jacobs to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Industrial Development Board of the City of Cullman. The agreement will facilitate the city’s role in administering a community development block grant to prepare the site of the forthcoming health technology call center located at the industrial park.

Passed a resolution granting a tax abatement to Reliance Worldwide Corp. (Cash Acme) for a $2.5 million investment at the company’s Cullman facility. The abatement does not exempt the company from paying taxes earmarked for education.

Passed a resolution awarding a bid for road work at the industrial park to Wiregrass Construction Co., Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $329,987.18.

Passed a resolution awarding the bid for one or more pickup trucks to Mitch Smith Chevrolet, the lowest responsible bidder, in the budgeted amount of $29,641.50.

Passed a resolution awarding the bid for one or more pickup trucks to Eckenrod Ford, the lowest responsible bidder, in the budgeted amount of $26,571.

Passed a resolution approving two change orders for construction work at the Cullman Water Facility, deducting from the project’s total cost.

Passed a resolution granting a 20-foot utility easement at Lot 1B of the resurvey of Lot 1 — Smith & Waldrop’s Second Addition (Fire Station No. 3.)

Suspended the rules in order to approve an ordinance on its first reading. The ordinance sets the terms for annexation of two properties abutting Industrial Park No. 3 in south Cullman. See the Jan. 17 edition of The Cullman Times for details on the annexation. The measure passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Approved a request from the Street Department to bid purchase a 2017 pickup truck from Mitch Smith Chevrolet for a budgeted amount not more than $39,000.

Approved a request to purchase a mentor touch scout from Mac Tools for a budgeted $2,200 for the city garage.

Approved a request from the traffic superintendent to bid purchase a 2017 pickup truck from Mitch Smith Chevrolet for a budgeted amount not more than $29,642.

Approved a request from the traffic superintendent to purchase 10 preemption systems from Temple, Inc., a sole-source provider, for a budgeted amount not more than $39,088.

Approved a traffic superintendent’s request to bid purchase a 2010 or later model bucket truck having fewer than 110,000 miles.