Harmar church launching food bank after reaching settlement for property use

A Harmar church is set to launch its food pantry this week after reaching a settlement with the township to allow it.

The agreement ended Feeding the Flock Ministries’ court appeal seeking to reverse an April decision by the township’s zoning hearing board, which sided with the township’s zoning officer in denying the permit.

The board found in December that Feeding the Flock’s primary use of a former church at 490 Nixon Road would be as a food distribution center, not a church, which is not allowed there under the property’s residential zoning.

A church and house of worship are permitted uses, and the building had previously housed a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. While Harmar in May allowed Feeding the Flock to use the building for one of those purposes, it did not allow them to operate a food pantry.

Harmar Solicitor Chuck Means said the agreement is “a good resolution of the court case.”

David York, an attorney for Feeding the Flock, said it made sense for the church and the township to work something out.

“Nobody wants to spend time and resources in the courts when we need to spend the time and resources helping people that are in need,” he said.

York said the food pantry is just one aspect of the church’s ministry, which he said also will include regular services, Bible study and worship open to the public.

“The church wants to be a good neighbor,” he said. “They believe they are going to be that and what they do is going to be a benefit not only to people in the township but the surrounding community at-large.”

Under the settlement agreement, food distribution is limited to registered participants one day per week, for up to seven hours per day, no earlier than 9 a.m. and no later than 7 p.m.

According to a flier for the pantry’s grand opening this week, it will be open every Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.

One additional day can be added if the township is given 30 days written notice, the agreement states.

The distribution can include hygiene and toiletry items, but not medications, drugs or other nonfood items.

Signs promoting or advertising the food distribution are not allowed, except for the main church sign that can display the time and hours of distribution.

All queuing, registration and distribution will have to be done inside the building, except for bulky food items that can be distributed under the front overhang.

The church will be required to have someone monitoring and directing traffic to make sure the street is not blocked. If township police determine traffic congestion or accidents are a problem, the church will have to pay for the township to provide an officer during food distribution hours.