Food Pantry In High Demand, Potential Relocation In Long Valley

LONG VALLEY, NJ —The Long Valley Food Pantry is experiencing an increase in need as food prices rise due to inflation, and the need to relocate to a larger space is becoming more pressing.

According to Township Committeeman Gregg Forsbrey, the president of the local food pantry requested assistance at a recent Township Committee Meeting, but was told to they needed to first "make an appointment."

"Most people are not aware that our local food pantry is struggling. At the moment they are operating out of the basement of a local church. The space is inadequate. For several months myself and others have been working with the food pantry on a plan to help. We have a local building that is sitting vacant. It’s a township-owned building that taxpayers have spent thousands of dollars to maintain," Forsbrey said on social media.

Representatives from the food pantry attended last month's meeting to request that a timeline for the relocation be established, but the mayor was unable to respond. "Our township committee all agreed that this building could be utilized by the food pantry and said 'yes' to the project, yet it stalled," Forsbrey said.

The Long Valley Community Assistance Program and Food Pantry is currently housed in the Long Valley Presbyterian Church at 39 Bartley Road and is provided free of charge to all Washington Township residents and attendees of the participating churches.

According to the food pantry website, they are currently in need of the following items:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Hot Chocolate
• Shelf Stable Milk
• Juice
• Oil
• Vinegar
• Mayo
• Flour/Sugar
• Canned Chicken / Canned Tuna
• Spam
• Canned Chili
• Canned Pastas
• Hearty Soups
• Grape & Strawberry Jelly
• Peanut Butter
• Cold Cereals
• Hot Cereals (Otameal, Cream of Wheat, etc.)
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Vegetables
• Soap
• Toothbrushes / Toothpaste
• Shampoo / Conditioner
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Paper Towels
• Napkins
• Infant Formula
• Baby Diapers
• Baby Food
• Baby Wipes

The Township Committee Meeting next week could potentially discuss the food pantry's future relocation, but the official agenda has yet to be released. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on July 18.