The Jackson Food Pantry is in urgent need of a new location after being notified it must vacate its current home inside the Jackson Senior Center by June 1, sparking concern and frustration among local officials and residents.
Jackson Council President Jennifer Kuhn said she was blindsided by the announcement, learning of the eviction only after being contacted by upset residents.
“This caught us all by surprise,” Kuhn said. “This is an extremely important service for our community, and the council had no prior notice until people started asking us what was going on.”
Kuhn and other council members are now working with the Jackson Women of Today, the volunteer organization that runs the pantry, to find a new home. She said a few groups, including the Jackson School Board, have already stepped forward to offer assistance.
In a message to Kuhn, Mayor Michael Reina explained the decision stemmed from multiple concerns, including scheduling conflicts with the June primary election—during which the pantry’s space is used as a polling location—and complaints from the Senior Center and Commission for the Disabled.
Among the complaints were reports of inmates stocking pantry shelves while unsupervised, food left unrefrigerated and blocking doorways, and the pantry operation spreading beyond its designated area.
“These are serious issues,” Reina wrote, adding that the township is committed to helping the pantry relocate to a “safe, suitable, and long-lasting location.” He noted that the previous location at the Department of Public Works (DPW) is no longer viable due to space limitations and ongoing demolition work.
The township is now reaching out to local houses of worship, businesses, and residents to identify a potential new site.
“This pantry is a lifeline for many,” Kuhn said. “We need the entire Jackson community to come together and help us find it a new home—fast.”