|
FOOD PANTRY REOPENS WITH STOCKED SHELVES
Community, Volunteers Credited With Getting Program Back On Its Feet
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo By Keith Hagarty Joan Butkiewicz was one of many volunteers helping to replenish the shelves at the Jackson Food Pantry this week after opening up their new location in the township Department of Public Works building on Don Connor Boulevard. |
|
After a fire wiped out its headquarters and entire inventory, the Jackson Food Pantry is once again open to the public, with over 8,000 pounds of food and goods fully stocked for residents in need.
Over a dozen volunteers have worked feverishly since the fire to restock the shelves while sifting through piles of stuffed shopping bags and donation bins at the new location.
"It's just great," said Phyllis Lewis, the director of the Jackson Food Pantry, as the pantry reopened its doors this week.
A fire tore through the pantry's previous headquarters on Don Connor Boulevard in August, destroying its entire inventory reserved for over 100 Jackson families in need. The loss of inventory was estimated at over $10,000.
Although it has only been about a month since the pantry fire, Lewis said it was a cooperative effort and positive action from generous residents, dedicated volunteers and township officials that made a quick reopening possible.
Touring the new facility to check on its progress, Mayor Mark Seda was impressed with the efforts of Lewis and the pantry's staff of volunteers.
"If it wasn't for the Jackson Women of Today and the public works putting it all together, it would've never come in so quickly," said Seda. "They did a great job putting it together. It was a difficult task in getting it done. It wasn't easy."
While the town is still in the process of upgrading the new location's lighting, parking and other minor issues, Seda said overall he's pleased with what he's seen.
"Now we'll make it the best possible food pantry we could make it," said Seda.
After spending four years using the former library site on Don Connor Boulevard as their headquarters, Seda said the pantry's new location was a long time coming, regardless of the unfortunate devastation caused by the fire.
"They've been in that building a long period of time, which made it difficult to operate and they didn't get that much support," said Seda. "Here we're going to make sure they have everything they need, such as lighting, heat, bathrooms."
The town is in the process of beautifying the department of public works grounds to further aide the initiative, including upgraded
landscaping.
"Here we're going to make it a home," he said. "We've already gone out and redid the front with
some grass and some new plantings. I want to make sure that when people come here, they don't feel like it's an embarrassment to be here. It's more of a family-oriented operation."
Attending last Saturday's pantry grand reopening, Councilman Scott Martin said he's still in awe of how quickly the pantry was up and running after having lost everything.
"It's truly a miracle we were able to get the food pantry reopened so quickly and without missing a distribution," said Martin. "This would not have been possible without the hard work of Dianne Stanaway of the Jackson Women of Today, Vinny Rubio of the Jackson Optimist Club and the generous donations from the residents and businesses of Jackson Township."
The quick rebound by the pantry is a testament to everyone involved in making sure the township's residents most in need are never forgotten, said Councilwoman Emily Ingram.
"I would like to congratulate Jackson Women of Today, students of ROTC and many of the other volunteers who participated in the grand reopening of the Jackson Food Pantry," she said. "The food pantry is a vital service to those in need within the Jackson Township, and to have so many people participating, with a smile, towards the operation of the food pantry is fabulous. This is an example of the great community spirit we have in Jackson."
While she never put a number on the amount of food she was hoping to collect via donations from the residents of Jackson, Lewis expressed her heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to everyone who lent a helping hand.
"We were just hoping for a lot," she said. "I didn't really know how much we were going to get, I was just hoping for as much as we could get.''
While donations of food are always welcome at the pantry, one of the items always high in demand are for health and beauty, such as toothpaste, deodorant, soap and shampoo.
"We really need everything," said Lewis, "but as far as health and beauty aides, we don't really get a lot of that. People still need to stay clean."
The pantry's next distribution day is October 25 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. However, regular patrons utilizing the pantry are asked to arrive no later than 4 p.m.
Anyone interested in donating to the pantry or volunteering their time can call 732-833-6800, where they are asked to leave their name and inquiry.
| 
)