Plymouth food pantry set to reopen after council vote

PLYMOUTH, N.C. (WITN) – Plymouth’s food pantry is set to reopen after the town council voted to enter into a lease agreement with United Full Gospel, allowing them to operate the community resource that closed in November.

The council voted 2-2 on the decision, with Mayor Crystal Davis breaking the tie in favor of entering into the lease agreement, according to Plymouth Town Manager Joanne Floyd.

The food pantry closed in November after the town council voted for the operators to vacate the building because they did not have a lease.

The previous operators ran the pantry for decades without a lease and simply had permission from the town, Floyd said.

Multiple residents who used the pantry said they are glad to hear it will reopen.

“They helped me out a lot. They took care of my family and me,” said Kermit Clarke, who used the Plymouth food pantry.

Tony Wrighton echoed those sentiments.

“They helped me out a lot of times because some things, they got it and I needed it. I like that,” Wrighton said.

Bama Bridges said he’s happy to hear the pantry will be in operation once again.

“I’m glad. I’ll be glad,” Bridges said.

The one-year lease is $1 per year. Mayor Pro-Tem Donsenia Teel and Councilwoman Kim Williams voted in favor of reopening. Councilwoman Micah Weathersbee and Councilman Jerry Rhodes voted against it.

When the pantry closed in November, Mayor Davis said she presented the operators with a lease for them to sign to stay open, but they refused.

Pantry volunteers at the time said they were never presented with a lease and said the mayor was lying about that.

Linward Baley said he hopes the reopened pantry will have the items he remembers getting in the past.

“You get nice things from there, especially when you don’t have anything or whatever. You come over that day, and they have plenty for you, all the way down to a cake,” Baley said.

United Full Gospel could not be reached for comment. They said they’re currently out of the country and won’t be back until next week.

Mayor Davis declined to be interviewed about the pantry reopening, saying she didn’t have time to speak with us in person.