San Jose tells food pantry it must shut down

A popular San Jose neighborhood food pantry is at risk of closing again after being hit with more zoning violations.

Lighthouse Food Rescue & Distribution was cited by San Jose on Sept. 25 for hosting its food distribution on the sidewalk and for not following zoning rules, as a food distribution center is no longer permitted in that neighborhood. If the organization does not comply within 10 days by removing the distribution and canopies from the sidewalk, it will start incurring daily fines of up to $20,000 a day, according to the citation, which also says the food pantry must cease operations within 60 days.

“I’m up against the wall,” Pastor Ralph Olmos, president and CEO of the food pantry, told San José Spotlight. “It’s almost like (the city is) telling me to stop. But my conviction says, ‘How can I leave the people?'”

Residents and advocates have said the food pantry is a lifeline for the community, serving families, older adults, homeless people and those with disabilities. The organization feeds more than 1,000 people a day, five days a week from noon to 5 p.m. It offers a variety of foods that are not available at other pantries — including milk, meat and eggs.

San Jose cited Olmos’ efforts more than four years ago due to zoning noncompliance. In order to operate, he needed to obtain a special use permit, which cost up to $15,500 — money the organization didn’t have.

Due to community protest, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously in 2022 to waive special use permit fees for food pantries or to create a program that would fund special use permits.

Marika Krause, spokesperson for the city Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department, said the zoning has since changed and a special use permit is no longer an option.

According to the citation Lighthouse received, a food distribution center is no longer a permissible use of the building.

“We value and commend the efforts of community organizations that help people during difficult times,” Krause told San José Spotlight. “The city is working with the property owner to find a suitable path forward in ensuring the health and safety of our community. Our inspectors have made it clear our goal is to work collaboratively.”

Olmos said the citation confused him and seemed to have come from nowhere, as he had no prior communication from the city that he was no longer in compliance or that the zoning had changed.

“We were not informed (of) any of that,” Olmos said. “It’s so crazy how much red tape we have to go through. You’re going to discourage people from starting a nonprofit, from helping the homeless.”

Residents said they are drawn to Lighthouse because of the variety and choice of food. The pantry, located at E. Julian and 17th streets near Lighthouse Church, is within walking distance for many families.

After Tim Robinson, 65, lost his job working at Williams Sonoma, he left San Francisco and moved in with his brother in San Jose. Robinson gets food at the pantry at least once a week and lives down the street from it.

“I would suffer (without the pantry),” he told San José Spotlight. “I’m very dependent on it.”

The Lighthouse pantry also creates specialized food boxes for people to pick up — including a box catered to people with diabetes, a vegetarian box and a box for homeless people with premade meals.

“The box is super important because diabetes and hypertension are involved in so many of the unhoused deaths,” homeless advocate Shaunn Cartwright told San José Spotlight. “Nobody else lets you be in charge of the food that you pick up. This gives you dignity, and that’s what’s really important.”

Olmos said he’ll need to shut down the pantry if he’s not allowed to set up on the sidewalk. Relocation is a possibility, but it would need to be located somewhere accessible to older adults and people with disabilities — and rent would have to be affordable.

“To lose something like this … it’ll be a community injury for sure,” Olmos said.

Contact Joyce Chu at [email protected] or @joyce_speaks on X.