SHENANDOAH, Pa. — On the corner of East Lloyd Street and North Lehigh Street in Shenandoah, yellow tape blocks off the ruins from the collapse of the back of the JW Cooper Community Center.
The building that food bank officials say is crucial for the livelihood of Shenandoah citizens in need is now condemned. Inside, the Beverly Mattson Memorial Food Bank has 20,000 pounds of dry goods along with freezers that workers can't get to.
"We have to take care of it, and we are working with the borough, and we're getting our drawings together from the architectural engineer as well as local contractors putting their thoughts together as to how we can do this expeditiously because we don't want the food bank closed any longer than it has to be," said Kent Steinmetz, President of the Beverly Mattson Memorial Food Bank.
Steinmetz says it is an expensive endeavor. Which may cause even more delays in their plans.
"We need help right away. Fortunately, we do have enough funding to get the ball rolling, and I do believe we have enough to fix the hole and start working on the roof and windows, but we're gonna need more, so if anybody is in the position to help, we'd really appreciate it."
The Beverly Mattson Memorial Food Bank operates out of the JW Cooper Building. The food bank's director, Denise Gehrman, says her biggest concern right now is possibly having to hold the food pantries in another location, which may be inaccessible for clients in need.
"Because a lot of our seniors that are coming are on oxygen and using assisted devices like walkers and wheelchairs, so for them to have to travel another three, four blocks from here, you know, down an alley is not the most convenient," said Gehrman.
Many of those seniors only have access to direct transportation to this building. Leaders are working to get permission to hold their upcoming senior food pantry event in the open lot next to the building, but the location has yet to be confirmed.