A popular San Jose neighborhood food pantry is at risk of closing again after being hit with more zoning violations.
Lighthouse Food Rescue & Distribution was cited by San Jose on Sept. 25 for hosting its food distribution on the sidewalk and for not following zoning rules, as a food distribution center is no longer permitted in that neighborhood. If the organization does not comply within 10 days by removing the distribution and canopies from the sidewalk, it will start incurring daily fines of up to $20,000 a day, according to the citation, which also says the food pantry must cease operations within 60 days.
“I’m up against the wall,” Pastor Ralph Olmos, president and CEO of the food pantry, told San José Spotlight. “It’s almost like (the city is) telling me to stop. But my conviction says, ‘How can I leave the people?’”
Residents and advocates have said the food pantry is a lifeline for the community, serving families, older adults, homeless people and those with disabilities. The organization feeds more than 1,000 people a day, five days a week from noon to 5 p.m. It offers a variety of foods that are not available at other pantries — including milk, meat and eggs.
