A home baker in Wahiawa has turned her lactation-treat business into a free food pantry for her community, which is good news for local families facing food insecurity.

• The pantry grew out of Utterly Goods, a bake stand the owner started to support breastfeeding mothers after struggling with it herself as a first-time parent.
• Extra proceeds from the bake stand now fund a new offshoot, Utterly Gives, a no-questions-asked food pantry outside her family home.
• Many nearby schools are Title One, meaning lots of kids rely on reduced lunch programs and don't have easy access to other food assistance.
• She has a track record of adapting to community needs, including making headbands for nurses' masks during the pandemic and handing out extra food when SNAP benefits were disrupted last year.
• The bake stand runs on Wednesdays and Sundays, but the food pantry stays open for anyone who needs it.

Outlook: The pantry is expected to keep running as an ongoing community resource, funded by bake stand sales.