MERCHANTVILLE, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A food pantry in South Jersey that serves hundreds of families each week has halted operations amidst complaints of heavy traffic in the small neighborhood. Talks are underway to find a solution.
Grace Episcopal Church in Merchantville, New Jersey has operated its food pantry for over 20 years. It started with about 30 families a week, but has grown to a steady flow of about 700 to 900 each week, with a huge demand that rose after the COVID-19 pandemic.
They had it down to a science once the need increased. Cars would line up, pop their trunks and drive away with bags of food. However, the borough has received complaints about heavy traffic, blocked driveways and overall safety concerns about the weekly program.
“As a church, we have an obligation to feed the hungry. We have an obligation to observe the just application of secular law and we have an obligation to be good neighbors to everybody,” said Rev. Bob Fitzpatrick.
He admits that the spread of hunger, and their response to hunger has exhausted the existing balance among those values. “But I think that the question of scale is a fair question,” he said, “and we see an obligation to continue that conversation.”
Fitzpatrick says the borough is working with them to come up with a solution, and he hopes the shutdown is temporary. Fred Wasiak, president and CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey, says they’re determined to meet the rising need from families.
“It's been at this level for the last six, seven months,” said Wasiak. “They're in a beautifully small neighborhood, and there's a lot of people in need. So with that comes structural challenges.”
The Food Bank distributes to over 200 pantries in the four counties they serve, and Grace is one of the top pantries. Wasiak says the three other food pantries in Merchantville are on alert and ready to help Grace, because everyone’s goal is that no one is turned away.
“Unfortunately you can't make everyone happy,” he said, “but first and foremost … we want to ensure that people who are in need, receive healthy, nutritious food with dignity, care and compassion.”