For the second time since 2016, the Billerica Food Pantry is staring down the same dilemma.
It has no home.
“We have nothing,” said co-director Marie O’Rourke on Wednesday.
The pantry was forced to move out of its space at at Lynnway Auto Auction this month, after a year and a half at that location. The pantry paid $1 a year for this 2,200-square-foot location in May 2016, and had called it home ever since.
Now, with a new tenant moving into the space, the food pantry is left homeless.
The remaining food is being kept in a storage pod, but without a base of operations, the pantry has been forced to close down. In addition, it isn't accepting any donations.
“I can’t take the goods, I have no place to put it,” O’Rourke said.
The food pantry has been forced to adapt to ever-changing scenery in its 25 year history in Billerica.
At the end of March 2016, the pantry was forced to close its doors at the old Ditson Elementary School when the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office training facility moved. The food pantry operated in two rooms of the old school for many years.
It has also been located at the Billerica Mall and the former Howe High School. O’Rourke started the pantry with Ken Buffum, both of the Veterans Services Office at Town Hall.
At the Selectmen meeting Jan. 8, Town Manager John Curran said that although the pantry isn’t a town entity, he’d still look to help where he can.
“We have an interest in making sure that this valuable service is available to the town,” he said.
“We would certainly be willing to work to facilitate a solution for the future of the food pantry,” he added.
In the past, the First Congregational Church in Billerica offered up space, but O’Rourke said unfortunately that space is just too small.
“It was very nice of them, but I don’t think anybody realizes the amount of food we have,” she said.
The food pantry is in search of 2,000 square foot space in town, that is easily accessible, and comes rent free.
“We’re looking for someone that has a good heart,” O’Rourke said. “We’d really like a permanent home.”
