About us
Built for Pantries. Designed for People.
Pantry Commons started with a simple observation: the people running food pantries were doing extraordinary work with tools that fought them at every step. Spreadsheets, sticky notes, and software built for someone else.
So we built something for them instead — for the pantry that opens twice a week, the volunteer covering the front desk, and the neighbor who just needs to know where to go. Access, ordering, inventory, events, and a shared resource directory, all in one place, all in plain language.
We call it a commons because it gets better as it's shared. Every pantry that joins gives the ones nearest it somewhere to send a pallet that would otherwise spoil, and someone to buy alongside.
Practical first
Tools shaped by the day-to-day of running a pantry — not a feature list nobody asked for.
Designed for people
Built alongside pantry staff and volunteers, in plain language, for the people doing the work.
Stronger together
The community-resource directory grows more useful as more pantries and neighbors join.
Built in Central Texas
Pantry Commons is a family-owned software company based in Central Texas.
We built Pantry Commons after seeing firsthand how much work goes into running a food pantry — and how often the technology available to pantries adds complexity instead of removing it.
Our backgrounds are different but complementary. Kristin previously worked in product management, billing and customer operations and now volunteers directly with food pantry programs. Her husband brings years of experience in software engineering and technical leadership. Together, we design and build Pantry Commons around the practical problems pantry staff and volunteers deal with every day.
We've called Central Texas home since 2019, as parents, homeschoolers and community volunteers. Over the years, our family has been involved with food pantries, refugee assistance, homeschool programs and other local service projects.
Pantry Commons reflects that background: practical tools, straightforward pricing, and software designed for the people actually doing the work.
Starting close to home
We're beginning by working with food pantries across Central Texas, to help those closest to home. It gives us the opportunity to know our early customers, listen closely, visit organizations when useful, and build Pantry Commons to serve those neighbors in our community.
Our goal isn't to impose one way of running a pantry. It's to build flexible tools around the way each organization serves its community.
Want to help build the commons?
Whether you run a pantry or just want to suggest a resource, we'd love to hear from you.