New food pantry opens in public works building

JACKSON - When a fire forced the closure of the Jackson Food Pantry on Aug. 29 many people may not have believed that the pantry would have all of its food replaced and been up and running at a new location by its next distribution date, Sept. 27.

DAVE BENJAMIN Phyllis Lewis, director of the Jackson Food Pantry, shows items stored in a refrigerator that will be provided to needy residents in the community. The food pantry has taken space at the Department of Public Works, Don Connor Boulevard. But there it was on Sept. 27: fully stocked shelves of food, more than 25 volunteers filling bags with canned goods, boxes of cereal and drinks, and a long line of people waiting patiently to be served.

Although it may take a village somewhere else to raise a child, right here in Jackson it was a community effort to rebuild and restock a food pantry.

"When we decided to relocate the pantry over here at the public works building the employees in the Department of Public Works put forth the effort necessary to build this place out in two weeks," Mayor Mark Seda said. "They did a phenomenal job. If it wasn't for their hard effort and the effort of the Jackson Women of Today we would not have the food pantry up today."

Although some work remains to be done at the pantry's new location, Seda said the plan is working.

Pantry director Phyllis Lewis thanked the mayor, the Township Council and the DPW employees.

"The workers did all the nitty gritty stuff," Lewis said. "They put out a 100 percent effort and I want to thank all of them from the mayor down to the last public works employee. They had to redo the walls, run new electricity, paint the floors and put in the new shelves. They did a great job and we are ready for the distribution."

Lewis said volunteers stocked the shelves with food that had been donated by residents and businesses over the past four weeks. Food pantry operators had to discard all of the food that had been stored at the previous location as a result of smoke damage from the Aug. 29 fire in the adjacent code enforcement office. In addition to the food that was donated to the pantry over the past few weeks, a regular shipment was received from the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune, ahead of the Sept. 27 distribution date.

Councilwoman Emily Ingram said, "the food pantry is a vital service to those in need in Jackson and to have the overwhelming support from the community has been fabulous."

Councilman Angelo Stallone said, "We didn't miss a beat here. The volunteers worked hard. The mayor made sure that everything was done to have this opening day. The pantry helps more than 100 families here in Jackson and it was important to us to not miss one month of distribution."

Councilman Scott Martin said, "Today's grand reopening would not have been possible without the hard work of the Jackson Women of Today, the Optimist Club and the generosity of the residents of Jackson."

Mike Kafton, who served as mayor during his tenure on Jackson's former Township Committee, said, "Aside from the fact that they are a wonderful organization, the Jackson Women of Today run the pantry and [for me] to be able to come out and help them along is a great thing. It's sad what happened to the pantry building, but it's nice to see that the township was able to open up this facility in such a short period of time."

He said there are many residents who need the type of assistance the pantry provides.

The next food distribution will be held on Oct. 25.

Resident Vinnie Rubio said it amazes him how the Jackson community opens up its heart every time it is called upon.

"It doesn't matter what the organization is," said Rubio, a past president of the Jackson Optimist Club. "I've never seen any municipality with as many nonprofit organizations that want to help and their agendas are to help their fellow man."

Rubio said he is proud to be a part of this effort and noted that the Jackson Police Explorers were still bringing in food donations as the doors of the pantry were being opened on Sept. 27.