After serving the Woodstock community for more than 30 years, The Good Neighbor Food Pantry (GNFP) has been asked to leave its space at the Woodstock Reformed Church by June 1.
According to Good Neighbor Food Pantry president Bill McKnight, the church raised the pantry’s rent from $1800 per year to more than $8000, a sum McKnight said was unsustainable. The pantry was able to come up with $4000, but needed help with the rest. With the help of Town Supervisor Bill McKenna, donors pledged the balance of the rent. The pantry was grateful it had a place for the year, but still needed to find a new place since it couldn’t keep paying the new rent.
The pantry was given a one-year reprieve, but all was not well behind the scenes.
“Members of food pantry aired their dirty laundry on Facebook and the church said we don’t need this anymore,” McKenna said. “We have a terrible, terrible need in this community and it’s a shame they can’t work together.”
McKenna had arranged for Family of Woodstock Program Director Tamara Cooper to mediate an agreement between the church and food pantry, but at this point, the relationship is beyond repair.
McKnight said the church is upset about the negative publicity caused by the food pantry’s publicizing their plight and has taken it out on them.
“I don’t know how they thought we were going to be able to raise funds if we didn’t let people know about our quandary,” McKnight said.
“We were hoping to come to an agreement on a rent cost – along with terms of sharing space – that would work for both parties,” Cari Pattison, pastor of the Woodstock Reformed Church wrote in a letter to Hudson Valley One. “ I wish we could’ve come to a different outcome together, as we believe in the work they do and are grateful for them and those they serve. We hope GNFP will find a location that works better for them.”
McKnight received a letter from church deacon Jim Ulrich saying negotiations are finished in light of public statements and that the party is to vacate the church by June 1.
McKenna encouraged a sit-down with the pantry, church and Cooper as recently as March 26, but the consistory responded its decision was final.
McKnight has asked for help from Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, state Senator Michelle Hinchey and Congressman Antonio Delgado. He is seeking legal advice since there is a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions through May 1 due to the pandemic.
Hinchey confirmed her office is trying to come up with a solution.
McKnight has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the move: https://www.gofundme.com/f/good-neighbor-food-pantry-new-home-fund
Pattison’s entire letter can be found in this week’s feedback section.
Join the family! 
