Finleyville food pantry closes its doors after receiving eviction notice

MIKE THE DOORS TO THE FINALE OF FOOD PANTRY ARE NOW CLOSED. THIS ORGANIZED SESSION HAS BEEN A STAPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS. IN RECENT YEARS, IT’S RENTED SPACE ON THE PROPERTY OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. BUT LAST MONTH, THE DIRECTOR OF THE PANTRY SAYS SHE RECEIVED AN EVICTION NOTICE. HERE WE HAVE HAMS. WE HAD THREE FREEZERS FULL OF THESE FANS. DIRECTOR PAT TRUMPY SAYS THE PANTRY SERVES ABOUT 350 FAMILIES A WEEK. I’M LIKE ALMOST IN TEARS AT HOW AMAZING THEY’VE BEEN WITH ALL THE FOOD THAT THEY GAVE ME. I MEAN, I HAVE A WHOLE TRUNK FULL OF FOOD TO TAKE TO THIS FAMILY THAT HAS NO FOOD IN THEIR FRIDGE. ARE THERE PANTRY? BUT AT LEAST IN THE INTERIM, THESE FAMILIES WILL HAVE TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. AN EVICTION LETTER SENT TO TRUMP LAST MONTH GAVE THE PANTRY UNTIL APRIL 30TH TO VACATE THE PROPERTY. BUT ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEED TO BE OUT BEFORE THEN. RENT HAS GOTTEN SO HIGH THAT WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BE HERE. AND TRUMP SAYS SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER TO PUSH BACK. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 REACHED OUT TO THE LAWYER WHO DRAFTED THE EVICTION NOTICE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. ATTEMPTS TO REACH THOSE ASSOCIATE WITH THE CHURCH WERE ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. FOR THERE’S GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE RELIED ON THIS PUBLIC SERVICE AND NOW IT’S NOT GOING TO BE HERE. SO WE ARE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR A BUILDING TO MOVE SO EVERYBODY WILL STILL GET ALL THEIR FOOD AND ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER. NOW, ONE OF OUR VIEWERS AT HOME HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO US, MAKING IT CLEAR HE’D LIKE TO COVER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF RENT FOR TRUMP AND HELP OUT. OF COURSE, THAT’S CONTINGENT ON WHETHER TRUMP FINDS A NEW PLACE FOR THE PANTRY. REPORTIN

The director of the Finleyville Food Pantry said she is working to find a new home for her organization, after closing the doors of the organization's current location Saturday."We are desperately looking for a building to move in so everybody will still get all their food and all the other programs that we offer," said the organization's director, Pat Trumpie.Trumpie shared with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 a picture of the eviction notice her organization received last month.In the letter, a lawyer representing the First Presbyterian Church — where the food pantry has been renting space — said the organization would have until April 30 to vacate the property. The letter also ordered Trumpie to remove all the equipment from inside before that date."The rent has gotten so high that we can't afford to be here," Trumpie said.The letter cites "back rent owed," suggesting that if it is not paid, the church would proceed to the magistrate both for eviction and collection.A phone call to the lawyer who signed the letter was not returned to Pittsburgh's Action News 4. Attempts to reach representatives of the church were not successful.

FINLEYVILLE, Pa. —

The director of the Finleyville Food Pantry said she is working to find a new home for her organization, after closing the doors of the organization's current location Saturday.

"We are desperately looking for a building to move in so everybody will still get all their food and all the other programs that we offer," said the organization's director, Pat Trumpie.

Trumpie shared with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 a picture of the eviction notice her organization received last month.

In the letter, a lawyer representing the First Presbyterian Church — where the food pantry has been renting space — said the organization would have until April 30 to vacate the property. The letter also ordered Trumpie to remove all the equipment from inside before that date.

"The rent has gotten so high that we can't afford to be here," Trumpie said.

The letter cites "back rent owed," suggesting that if it is not paid, the church would proceed to the magistrate both for eviction and collection.

A phone call to the lawyer who signed the letter was not returned to Pittsburgh's Action News 4. Attempts to reach representatives of the church were not successful.

Finleyville food pantry closes its doors after receiving eviction notice

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