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Broadview food-pantry director urges mayor to meet about relocation; mayor says calendar limits meeting but offers future discussion
Summary
At the Broadview board meeting, Judy Brown Marino, director of the Broadview Food Pantry, said the pantry must relocate after its host congregation decided to dissolve and asked Mayor Katrina Thompson for a meeting; Thompson said she had not received outreach, affirmed prior support for pantries and offered a meeting when her schedule permits.
Judy Brown Marino, director of the Broadview Food Pantry, told the Village of Broadview board she has tried for almost two months to meet with Mayor Katrina Thompson to discuss relocating the pantry after its host congregation voted to dissolve. "We serve between 75 and a 110 families per week," Marino said, adding that most clients and many volunteers walk to the current location inside Community Presbyterian Church.
The pantry was started in 1995 by Bob Payne and moved to the church location in 2009; Marino said many clients are Broadview residents and that the impending loss of the site has left volunteers and clients concerned.
Mayor Katrina Thompson addressed the pantry in her president's report later in the meeting, saying she supports food pantries and that the village has donated to other local pantries. Thompson said she had not received outreach from Marino and asked that requests go through the clerk's office. "I'm open to a meeting with you when my schedule permits," the mayor said, noting that her calendar is booked about 90 days in advance. She also said the village had recently received a USDA grant payment related to other programs the village manages.
The exchange left the pantry director publicly urging a reply and the mayor offering a meeting scheduled through the proper channels. Marino asked the mayor to respond to her next email so the two can discuss the pantry's future in Broadview; the mayor reiterated willingness to meet when scheduling allows.
Why it matters: The Broadview Food Pantry serves dozens of families weekly and provides walkable access for residents and veterans; a loss of the church location could disrupt distribution and increase hardship for clients.
Next steps: Marino asked the mayor to respond to email and arrange a meeting; Mayor Thompson asked that meeting requests be scheduled through the clerk's office and said she will meet when her calendar allows.
