“Plymouth Evicts Compassion: Food Pantry Shut Down While Hunger Rises”

The Plymouth Food Pantry, a lifeline for hundreds of families, has been ordered to vacate its building by December 1, 2025. The town manager’s letter delivered last week demanded that the pantry turn in its keys, citing lease compliance issues. Bear Towne Market, which shares the same building, received a similar eviction order.

The decision has sparked outrage. At the most recent council meeting, the room was standing-room only, with residents spilling into the hallway and outside in protest. Many expressed disbelief that the town would shut down a food pantry at the very moment when food insecurity is surging across Massachusetts.

The timing could not be worse. On November 1, 2025, SNAP benefits were suspended statewide, affecting nearly one million residents. Food banks and pantries have reported demand spikes as high as 1,800%, overwhelming already strained resources. Governor Maura Healey advanced $4 million to food banks statewide to help offset the crisis, but local pantries like Plymouth’s remain on the front lines.

For years, the Plymouth Food Pantry has been more than a charity — it has been a safety net. Families facing layoffs, seniors living on fixed incomes, and children who rely on school meals have all turned to the pantry for survival. Its closure means hundreds of households could lose access to food assistance at the worst possible time.

The town insists that rules must be followed, but residents argue that bureaucracy should never outweigh human need. Lease compliance may be a technicality, but hunger is a reality. Shutting down the pantry without offering an alternative is not just poor governance — it is a moral failure.

This moment demands leadership. Plymouth must reverse course, extend the pantry’s lease, or immediately provide a new facility. Churches, nonprofits, and civic leaders should step forward to ensure that no family is left without food. The community cannot afford to let red tape dictate whether children eat or go hungry.

The Plymouth Food Pantry’s eviction is more than a local dispute — it is a symbol of how easily the most vulnerable can be forgotten. At a time when hunger is rising, the least fortunate deserve compassion, not eviction notices.

Written By: Quarla Blackwell