Hoping for an acceptance

This Free Little Pantry has been declined twice now by automation. I’ve tried adding more to it. Does this look sufficient?

A little free pantry is not the same thing as a little free library. That can be a sensitive location for people who might need to access the items in the pantry, and they are often rejected in community review. I do like how your description here talks about the meaning to the neighborhood, and the artistic value of this particular pantry, though. (There is an “a” that is not needed after “whether it be” fyi)

Your supporting statement does not address how you think this meets any of the core criteria of a great place for exercise, exploration, or being social. For a link to how Niantic defines these terms see: https://wayfarer.nianticlabs.com/new/criteria/acceptance You do not need to talk about exercise on the sidewalk or picnicking in the grass unless the pantry somehow encourages this.

Does this show on street view? If it does not, your supporting photo should show the pantry in place with other things that can be seen on Maps in order to convince reviewers that it is there. If there is a link with more information about this project, you can put the link in the supporting.

If this is being rejected by the “automated process” then often a different main photo can help. I can’t really see the thumbnail very well if you would like to post a larger version of just the photo. I don’t see anything that would cause a rejection in the thumbnail here.

6 Likes

The automated process almost certainly uses more than just the photo and it might not perceive this as public space. It isn’t possible to tell just from a single thumbnail whether this area is or looks like a private yard, which everything up to the sidewalk (and sometimes on to the roadside) is in suburbs like this. If you want better advice, please post the full pictures and location (found in the submission receipt email below the photos).

1 Like

Also - when a submission is rejected by ML, do not resubmit with the same photo. The same photo will almost certainly result in a rejection regardless of other changes. You can use a similar photo, but since the photo is most often the cause of the automated rejection, a different photo is better.

Oh, I did that thing where I read everything under the Title and forget to read the Title. You should give this a more unique title. Like Name of Neighborhood or Name of Street or Name of Business in front of “Little Free Pantry”.

I wouldn’t even recommend resubmitting a little free pantry, as it can be viewed as a sensitive location. Food banks in general are usually considered sensitive, due to the nature of what they provide to the community and how some that have to use them may not feel comfortable when having to use them, so a little free pantry is similar, just on a smaller scale.

@standupty Also, just for any nomination, just saying that it can be accessed by the public doesn’t mean it could be located someplace that isn’t allowed, such as single family private residential property or a K-12 school.

This also doesn’t meet the exercise criteria, as you don’t do any exercise at a little free pantry. Places thst meet the exercise criteria would include sports fields/courts, hiking/biking trails, fitness center, etc. Yes, it may be near a sidewalk where one can exercise, but that’s not what is being submitted, so you don’t do any exercise at a little free pantry. I don’t think many would socialize at these due to their nature, and I don’ t think picnics are held at this exact location. It may be a place to explore, but again, it’s also seen as a sensitive location for many and may be hard to get approved.

Cyndie did provide the link for what may be acceptable, but you may want to take a look at all of the Wayspot Criteria, as it also includes info on what may not be eligible, as well as info on what may cause a rejection.

Also like to point out we have had some debates on little free pantries, and most do agree that they do not meet criteria and are considered sensitive locations.

2 Likes

Yeah go ahead and try it OP, there is no official explicit stance by Niantic to reject these. If you read the previous discussions that are linked, the main fear is that people will stand around that pokestop. But as you know, from playing pokemongo, people don’t actually just stand around a single pokestop. Chances are, people will just walk by, spin it and continue on.

As Niantic states:

There is always a grey leeway for submitters to accommodate their local customs and culture. Use your best judgment :slightly_smiling_face:

Good Luck!

1 Like

You recall quite correctly about little food pantries seeing a surge in nominations once Niantic said Little Free Libraries are eligible. Sadly, some were approved without reason other than ignorance.

Yes, and we’ve had many that have been able to get them removed for being sensitive locations, including ambos. Here’s an example of one that was removed after the removal request was rejected:

There’s also clarification from staff from the old forums in this post about Blessing Boxes, which are basically the same as little free pantries, that they are ineligible.

there is also precedent that a pantry sharing food for the neighborhood as this was presented could be eligible - gendgi says it better than me: Food pantry and little free library uncertainties - #3 by Gendgi

1 Like

i mentioned that these are usually considered a sensitive area in the first comment i made, fwiw.

These are most likely not common, and most that I have ever seen are at places that are willing to provide help to others, like churches or social service organizations.

This one says that it could be used if someone is missing an ingredient, but it also notes that it can be used if someone is in need. If it was solely for sharing recipes and ingredients to make them, then I’d think there’d be cookbooks and recipes there, along with the items to make the recipes. If it’s just to leave anything to help others out who may need the help, then it may be a sensitive location.

If there was one in a neighborhood where, whoever ran it, put in different recipes every so often along with the ingredients to make said recipes, that would be a little different than one where you are able to leave food for anyone that needs it to take.

1 Like