Expansion Plans Of Non-Profit Go Before Cherry Hill Zoning Board

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Cherry Hill Food Pantry wants to expand its Beechwood Avenue location so that it can better serve its roughly 300 families in the Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Marlton and Mt. Laurel areas, paperwork obtained by Patch indicate.

But since the food pantry is located in a residential district, the organization needs Cherry Hill Zoning's board approval before the food pantry can start putting shovels into the ground.

Currently, food pantry clients receive a box of food that is prepared for them without their input. This box of food is then placed in the client's car and the client drives away, according to the paperwork the food pantry submitted in support of its application.

"Under this method, every client receives the same amount of food which means that some clients are receiving more food than they can use," the food pantry staff wrote.

"Clients also receive all types of meat, for example, however for religious or other reasons some abstain from eating pork. Some clients who get milk may not be able to use it," the food pantry staff continued.

The food pantry's application for a zoning variance, should it be approved, would allow the food pantry to construct an unpaved parking lot for 39 vehicles, the paperwork stated that would eliminate those concerns.

With approval, the food pantry would set up a grocery store-type atmosphere, where clients "would push their cart around the store selecting items off the shelves," the paperwork stated.

The approval would help others besides the approximately 300 families the food pantry already serves, according to the food pantry staff.

"We are continuing to get new clients and anticipate a large increase in new clients due to
inflation caused by the combination of covid-19 and the Ukraine situation."

The Cherry Hill Zoning Board is scheduled to review the food pantry's application at a future meeting.

Got a news tip? Story idea? Send me an email with the details at janel.miller@patch.com.