CLEVELAND — After the food pantry at Bigman’s Family Center officially closed, we’re still responding.
The Kinsman Road building was foreclosed on and purchased by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank due to “unsanitary, negligent and unhealthy conditions throughout the premises, including the food storage area.”
Sauriika Lockett, owner of Bigman’s Family Center, has worked tirelessly for years to provide food for her neighbors in the Garden Valley area and downtown Kinsman. For Lockett, her mission is personal.
“I know what it’s like to not have that,” Lockett said. “It’s my personal effort to let people know that there is a way out. There is another path you can choose. You don’t have to be a product of your environment.”
Four walls don’t define any individual or nonprofit, but they do define Bigman’s Family Center.
Lockett was evicted by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, which acquired the property.
The Cleveland Food Bank also ended its partnership with the food pantry on July 18.
“I said absolutely not,” Lockett said. “I’m going to be here and I’m going to fight for this community to the end.”
The eviction comes after a challenge that News 5 has been following for a year.
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In August 2023, Big Man’s Food Pantry was forced to close after an inspection by the Cleveland Food Bank found evidence of rats and serious cleanliness issues.
The pantry finally reopened in September after passing a second site inspection.
“I’m not going to say there aren’t any mice,” Lockett said. “The shed is outside, so there are bound to be mice. We don’t have any mice in our shed, or any large rodents of that nature.”
Lockett had the opportunity to purchase the building from the land bank but didn’t have the financing.
The Cuyahoga County Land Bank said in a statement:
“The unsanitary, unkempt and unhealthy conditions throughout the building, including the food pantry, are the reasons we are evicting the tenants from this building. We could not in good conscience allow this business to continue. Prior to the eviction, we had agreed to sell the building to Bigman Center for $25,000, but they never completed the sale. This money has no bearing whatsoever on our decision to evict.”
Gus Frangos, President and General Counsel, Cuyahoga County Land Bank
The Land Bank then sent News 5 more than 100 photos showing conditions inside the building, and Lockett denied it had anything to do with the food business.
“None of these are food pantries,” Lockett said.
While we were there, News 5 cameras also captured a mouse fleeing the pantry, chased by a cat.
“Is this sanitary?” asked New 5’s Brynn Caswell.
“I would say it’s hygienic because it’s kept clean,” Lockett replied.
Cleveland City Councilman Richard A. Starr, Ward 5, said it’s time for alternative ownership and he’s working with community partners to find a solution.
“It’s just a tough time, but as your Ward 5 city council member, I’m committed to working with these organizations to ensure these services continue, but we may need another operator who can own and manage the facility to help,” Starr said.
Lockett said he is open to the idea of relocating, but needs funding.
“If this food pantry closes, there will be no Thanksgiving, there will be no holiday distribution, there will be no coats for the kids,” Lockett said.
Lockett said the original agreement was to raise $25,000 by 5pm on July 31 to donate to the land bank. However, the land bank said the previous agreement was no longer being adhered to because the facility was no longer receiving support from the food bank.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank said in response to ending its partnership with the pantry:
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank (GCFB) provides food to over 1,000 program partners across a six-county service area. Food safety and quality of service are of paramount importance. Each partner signs an annual contract and agrees to adhere to important guidelines regarding proper food handling/storage, cleanliness, and safe food distribution.
Last year, following community complaints about unsanitary conditions, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s compliance team conducted an on-site visit to Bigman’s Family Center, located at 7100 Kinsman Rd. The on-site visit revealed significant pest and cleanliness issues that needed to be addressed. Over the past year, GCFB has worked with volunteers from Bigman’s Family Center to address these issues, but no significant improvements have been made. Additionally, the building where Bigman’s Family Center distributed food has been foreclosed and purchased by the Cuyahoga County Land Bank.
Providing a sanitary, safe and clean environment that meets all food safety standards is a prerequisite for partnering with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Additionally, GCFB prides itself on being a good steward of our community resources while maintaining compliance requirements for state, federal and national contracts. GCFB recently made the decision to end its partnership with Bigman’s Family Center effective July 18, 2024.
We are working with many community partners to ensure adequate food resources are available to our neighbors in need. We also encourage our neighbors to visit their local hunger centers for assistance (list attached). Additionally, anyone who believes they may be in need of food resources can call the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Help Center at 216-738-2067. Over the past year, GCFB has been working with volunteers from Bigman’s Family Center to address these issues, but has not seen any noticeable improvement.”
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has released a list of food drives taking place near the Kinsman area.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank
We will get it done
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