Dubuque’s Walk-Up Food Pantry Taken Down After Several Years of Service

A walk-up, self-service pantry, known for offering food, books, and various supplies to members of the Dubuque community, has been taken down following several rule-breakers and people taking advantage of the humble little box.

The box, known as "Big Purple," was a community staple, located at the corner of 23rd Street and Central Avenue in Dubuque. It existed for several years, being dutifully stocked and curated by Janet Walker, the designed coordinator of the box. Sadly, as first reported by KWWL last week, Big Purple's run in the Key City has ceased.

Big Purple was removed last Thursday, March 6th, and its removal has saddened the likes of those who tried hard to make it a beacon of generosity in the community. Big Purple was set up back in 2018 as a place where anyone in need could "shop" anonymously for food and supplies. They could take what they needed without question or judgement.

Per KWWL, Walker devoted hours to making sure Big Purple had what the average, everyday person looking for help could need. Despite the simple rules for the pantry, some proved incapable of following them:

• Nothing too big for the box to handle
• Cars had to park in designated spaces
• All items had to be donated and taken in good faith

As someone who set up a similar box at one point — a "Free Blockbuster" box, where people could donate and "rent" DVDs as a way to preserve the tangible experience of physical media — I know all too well about people taking advantage of something offered for free in the community.

Renee Krier, the owner of Romper Stompers, explained to KWWL that "people started using it like a grocery store," presumably taking a large volume of items, which was never the intention. It also results in an inconsistent and unstable supply chain for a box that relies on donations.

Krier even noted that there were multiple car accidents in front of Big Purple to compound the existing issues.

The ultimate coup de grâce happened when Krier's daughter, one of Big Purple's volunteers, got her phone stolen when trying to help fill the box:

My daughter was out here filling the box with some extra food, and she had put her phone on top, came back to get more, and a gentleman had been passing by, took the food that he needed first, and then grabbed her phone and had stolen it" - Renee Krier, per KWWL

Krier told KWWL that she is not ruling out the return of Big Purple in a new form, but she needs time to explore options. Either way, it's a sad end to a box that, despite some issues as of late, undoubtedly provided significant relief to families in Dubuque and the Tri-States.

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Read the full story on KWWL's website.