Phillipsburg's military families' food pantry moves from Phillipsburg Armory to Port Murray

PHILLIPSBURG | After eight months of serving the community, the food pantry for military families at the Phillipsburg Armory has relocated.

Area military families seeking assistance must now travel to a food pantry in Port Murray, Mansfield Township. The 550 Route 57 facility is the center of operations for the 50th Special Troop Battalion Family Readiness Group, a military initiative that helps support families with deployed loved ones.

Monday, officials said the decision to move may have stemmed from a misunderstanding.

The Phillipsburg School District leases the 441 Heckman St. armory from the town and sublet space for the Phillipsburg pantry. Pantry organizer Bill Nixon claims he moved out after the school district requested the food bank relocate by July 1.

Schools Superintendent Mark B. Miller denied asking the food pantry to find a new home. He claims he suggested July 1 as a deadline if Nixon felt it necessary to relocate.

"He was told point-blank they can have that as long as they need it," Miller said.

Almost immediately after receiving an e-mail from the superintendent, Nixon said he packed the food and supplies and with some help from volunteers hauled the pantry's contents to Mansfield Township.

He said about a week later he received another e-mail informing him that there was no need for him to vacate the building by July.

"I'm sure it's a miscommunication," Nixon said. Miller "has a son in the Army, so I know he knows where we're coming from."

Nixon said he was grateful for the time he had to work with Phillipsburg families. He said on average, the pantry provided food for 58 families each month.

"We were trying to provide help on our end because we had 40 soldiers from Phillipsburg in Iraq," he said. "Our goal was to take care of the families and we did that.

"It was a very positive thing."

The pantry occupied the armory rent-free since mid-October courtesy of town officials. Miller said the school district would not have required Nixon to pay rent either.

Nixon said Northampton County families who were using the facility may have the hardest time adjusting to the new location.

"They were coming to our pantry, so that is a loss for them," Nixon said.

The Phillipsburg food pantry was open twice a week. The Port Murray location will be staffed daily.

With the return to Warren County on Monday of the New Jersey National Guard 50th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Nixon hopes demand for the food bank lessens. But, he added, many of the returning troops could face unemployment upon their return, creating more financial difficulties.

The Army plans to evaluate usage at the Port Murray food pantry and determine if the need still exists for the location, Nixon said. If not, Nixon said the food pantry would shutter in September.

He said this evaluation should also determine whether a need continues for the service in Phillipsburg.