The North Bergen Food Pantry, on North Bergen Road in the town of Bergen, will soon be losing their space.
The food pantry was established in August of 2019 by Pastor David Fish as a mission activity for the North Bergen Presbyterian Church. Fish, seeing the great need in his rural community, set up the pantry with the help of volunteers, Foodlink, and donations from local churches, farmers, individuals and area businesses. His goal is to combat food insecurity in his much-loved rural community.
On December 31, 2023, the North Bergen Presbyterian Church, which has stood for nearly 200 years, will be permanently closing its doors because of dwindling patronage. Without the church building, the pantry must vacate. The Food Pantry cannot afford the maintenance and upkeep of the church building, and is looking for another space to accommodate the operation. “I’m so hoping that someone will come forward and offer us a place. We have what we need; refrigerators, freezers, shelving units and, most importantly, volunteers who are willing to continue this mission. We need at least 2,000 square feet of space. A space that offers handicap entrance, parking, and a restroom would be perfect,” Pastor Fish said.
In the four years the pantry has been in operation, the households served have steadily increased. The elderly and those on fixed income have especially benefited from the food provided. “There is great need in our community. In 2022 we helped over 1,157 individuals from 394 households. Not only do we help families with food insecurity, but we also offer a warm environment and often foster relationships that may lead those in need to other services,” Fish said.
http://FeedingAmerica.org reports that 87% of counties with the highest food insecurity rate are rural. In 2022, osc.state.ny.us reports that 11.7% of Genesee and Orleans County residents live in poverty. According to Fish, the pantry attendance grew 269% between March and December 2022. “As a result of the pandemic, food costs have risen, and there have been supply-chain issues causing many families to make difficult decisions with regard to feeding their families,” Fish said.
Pastor Fish is very devoted to keeping this much-needed food pantry alive and thriving into 2024 and beyond. He is reaching out to the communities of Genesee, Orleans and Western Monroe to help him find a place to continue his mission.
If you know of, or have a potential vacant space that will be available by the end of the year, contact Pastor David Fish at 585-290-5487. Also, if you would like to contribute to the North Bergen Food Pantry, please call Pastor Fish.
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