We've all seen the "Need a Penny? Take a Penny. Have a Penny? Leave a Penny" signs at gas stations for years. Now, someone has taken that idea a bit further in hopes of helping to feed people in need.

Lafayette's James Blanchard posted to Facebook earlier today that "Its here. On Simcoe across from The Alamo at Fight'nville Fresh Farmers market. Open 24 hours a day. Let's try to fill it up by Christmas yall!"

The idea for free pantry was thought up by Lafayette's Joey Thibodeaux and was built by James and Mark Blanchard of Blanchard’s Home Improvement. Blanchard’s Home Improvement donated the materials to build to the pantry as well.

The Fight'nville Fresh Farmers Market pantry is a free 24-hour, self-serve, no questions asked resource for anyone in need of food, whatever the reason. Blanchard also hopes to make toiletries available at the pantry as well.

All it takes to help keep this fantastic idea going strong for our community is for all of us to pitch in and make sure it stays stocked.

You can simply drop off non-perishable food items for the free pantry at the Fight'nville Fresh Farmers Market located at 315 W Simcoe in Lafayette.

Monetary donations can also be made to keep the pantry stocked at paypal@swladsa and Cashapp $dsaswla.

If you have any questions or want more information, you can contact James Blanchard through his Facebook page HERE.

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