Plainsboro’s food pantry nearly bare

More demand for assistance reported.

By: Jill Matthews
   PLAINSBORO — The shelves at the municipal food pantry have been stark since the end of the holiday season and the panty is looking for organizations interested in making donations on a monthly basis, Township Committeewoman Ginger Gold Schnitzer announced at last week’s committee meeting.
   Jan Bayern, director of municipal welfare, said in a phone interview that the township has seen a 100-percent increase in use of the food pantry over the past year. Where the township would normally deal with 10 to 12 cases per month, that number has risen to about 20 to 22 cases, she said. In addition, the department aided 93 households over the holiday season, she said.
   "For a number of reasons, we’ve had more and more people asking for the help," Ms. Bayern said.
   Expensive housing and the increasing cost of living in general without similar increases in salaries were among the reasons Ms. Bayern cited for the huge jump in need for the pantry, which was designed to be an emergency resource.
   "Part of it is a sign of the times," said Ms. Bayern. "A number of people are earning little more than the minimum wage and just can’t keep up."
   The pantry needs continuing donations, not just a one-shot windfall, and hopes that enlisting groups or organizations that will take up a collection each month or bring awareness to the issues will help with the problem, she said.
   For more information, call Ms. Bayern at (609) 799-0909, ext. 218.
   In other business, the township promoted a police officer to the position of sergeant at its meeting.
   Joseph Jankowski, a 10-year township employee, was promoted to the position of sergeant during a brief swearing-in ceremony. Sgt. Jankowski joined the township staff as one of the first emergency management technicians, working to help develop some of the procedures and protocols used today. Mr. Jankowski joined the police department eight years ago and became a patrol officer six years ago. He spent the past two years in the traffic control division.
   The Township Committee also passed an ordinance establishing the salaries of several public officials. They include the township attorney and planning board attorney at $138.52 per hour, which were both increased from $133.91 per hour; the prosecutor at a $53,560 yearly salary, increased from last year’s $52,000 salary; and the public defender at a $33,000 yearly salary, increased from last year’s $29,775 salary.