Cleveland residents hopeful food pantry will reopen soon

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - About a dozen community members met Sunday to discuss the closing of the food pantry at Bigman’s Family Center on Kinsman Road last month.

A spokesperson for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, said they received calls about the cleanliness of Bigman’s Family Center from concerned community members. Their compliance team conducted a site visit in early August and the center was temporarily closed on Aug. 17.

The compliance team reported serious pest and cleanliness issues and some food had to be thrown away, said Karen Pozna, Director of Communications and Special Events for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

“Bigman’s Family Center continues to be a valued partner agency of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank as well as the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland. They are filling an important need with their focus on serving people in an area of high food insecurity and we appreciate their attention to this matter. We will continue to work with them to support their re-opening and their efforts to serve the community,” said Pozna.

According to Pozna, the Food Bank is working with Bigman’s and the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland to re-open the pantry as soon the issues are addressed.

In the meantime, residents can go to several other food pantries:

University Settlement Hunger Center, 4800 Broadway Ave., Cleveland, OH 44127 (216) 641-8948. Hours: Tuesday - Friday 11:30 am-2 pm
Corinthian Hunger Center, 1643 East 55th Street, Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 526-1107. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 10 am-1 pm
Hunger Network, MidTown Market, 4415 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103 (216) 619-8155 x 115. Hours: Every Other Saturday from 9 am – 12 pm; Mondays from 4 pm - 7 pm