STROUDSBURG, Monroe County (WBRE/WYOU) — Tensions and conflicts surrounding a Monroe County church food pantry and its delivery system. Stroudsburg Borough officials said there have been several issues at the food pantry over the past few months over parking and community safety.
But food pantry organizers disagree.
Stroudsburg Borough City Hall and Christ Episcopal Church are located next to each other, but right now they aren’t exactly good neighbors.
During Friday’s food pantry distribution, food had to be delivered by another method within Christ Episcopal Church.
Church members brought groceries from across Seventh Avenue to the church after Stroudsburg Borough officials blocked off the parking lot with borough vehicles.
“They couldn’t use our parking lot because we basically banned them from entering the parking lot,” said Stroudsburg Borough Manager Larry Kopp.
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Over the past year, roads and access to residential areas near the site have been congested with cars and food pantry recipients, Kopp said. There is only one exit from the parking lot, so it gets crowded.
“Right now, we have a very dangerous situation because we have so many people coming into our food pantries. We couldn’t get people out to work,” Kopp continued.
In just one year, the pantry went from serving 30 families to serving more than 400 families.
Father Bruce Goh, administrator of Christ Episcopal Church, said, “Our volunteers will unload the truck within 20 to 30 minutes and then remain inside the church for 40 minutes, so it will be an hour to two hours at most. Probably.”
A statement released by the borough includes allegations of harassment and disrespectful behavior by volunteers towards borough staff.
“I can’t say whether there was any actual harassment. If the church had a policy, of course we would follow it. We take those allegations very seriously,” Father Go added. .
Kopp and Father Gowe both said that both sides have offered solutions, but so far no agreement has been reached.
“We want them to do their jobs, but they can’t be here anymore,” Kopp says.
Kopp is looking for a food pantry that can use the parking lot across the street for deliveries and move-ins.
Father Gowe told me that he would consider relocating if the borough offered financial compensation for a new building and adequate staffing.
But both sides are looking for some sort of solution.
