Board approves $5,000 in gift cards for Riverside Presbyterian food pantry and continues farmer’s-market voucher program

Riverside Township voted to provide $5,000 in gift cards to the Riverside Presbyterian Church little food pantry and to continue its farmer’s-market voucher program, which supplies four $5 vouchers per food-pantry participant each month during the market season.

A representative of the food pantry told the board the pantry receives donated items from local grocery stores, Hauser Schools (packaged meals and produce), Factor/HelloFresh-distributed microwavable meals, and purchases groceries with previous gift cards. The pantry representative said the Factor shipments sometimes arrive in large quantities (multiple cases); when supplies exceed local demand they are redistributed to other pantries. The pantry also reported increased usage and recent monthly donations from a local resident.

Trustee Clark moved to provide $5,000 in gift cards and Trustee Carroll seconded; the motion passed unanimously on a roll-call vote. Later, Trustee DeCastle moved, and Trustee Heilenbach seconded, to continue providing four $5 vouchers per pantry participant each month during the farmer’s market (June through September). That motion also passed on a roll-call vote with all trustees voting yes.

Board members asked how much of the pantry’s spending would be directed to particular retailers; the pantry representative said roughly two-fifths of requested funds would be for Aldi gift cards, with others for Costco and Walmart purchases. The pantry said it plans to conduct an updated survey to better identify the geographic origins of pantry users; current estimates (from an earlier survey) indicate many users are Riverside residents but exact residency is not verified.

The board framed both approvals as part of ongoing food-access support. Trustees indicated they could consider additional funds later if the pantry’s needs increase.