Town board still committed to better site for food pantry

by Dan McClelland

After an executive session to deal with a current law suit involving many towns, Supervisor Rickey Dattola announced the board is still committed to finding a ground-floor and better location for the Tupper Lake Food Pantry.

The pantry which feeds over 100 families each week is situated in one-half of the basement of the Aaron Maddox building, with poor access down steep concrete stairs and no safe secondary egress.

There are also major heating issues there.

At a recent town board meeting town leaders were unanimous that a better place be found for the pantry- and one that is fully handicapped accessible.

At a special meeting several weeks ago Mr. Dattola had said there was a deal in the works with Knights of Columbus leader Mark Moeller where the Knights of Columbus council might donate their building to the town for both a food pantry and senior citizens’ center- both now at the Aaron Maddox Hall. He later reported the senior citizen council is happy with its present location and doesn’t want to move from the modern addition to the hall that was built two decade ago.

“We’re still working on an option for the food pantry, however,” he said Thursday evening.

“We think we have something in the works...we’re going to take a close look at the building.

“We are looking into some financing.”

Lorraine Bassett, who often attends town board meetings, thought there might be some grants available through the Tri-lakes Center for Independent Living because some people with disabilities are recipients of the food pantry goods.

Mr. Dattola said he thought the Knights building would be a good option for the pantry.

Ms. Bassett commended the board for its commitment to find a better place for the pantry.

“By next meeting we should have some more information,” the supervisor promised his members. He thought there may be some county funding available, through the diligence of Legislator Nedd Sparks.

There were reports this week, however, that the building has been sold to an individual here who might be interested in leasing the bar and kitchen side of the building to the town to situate the food pantry operation.

Next week the Free Press explores some of the inadequacies and unsafe aspects of the current food pantry location in the town-owned Maddox building.