A self-serve food pantry in Tamaqua has closed.

G-Lady’s Community Food Pantry at 220 Green St., which is operated by volunteers from Stokes Ministry, ceased operations last week.

Julie Stokes of Stokes Ministry, said verbal abuse and lack of support are to blame.

But despite the closing, she said Stokes Ministry is still operational, and there’s a chance that the pantry might reopen.

”If we can come up with a solution for the pantry, perhaps we can get it back in service at some point but right now we have to step back and reevaluate things,” Stokes said.

As for the closing, Stokes blamed it the harsh words directed at volunteers from pantry guests and those seeking assistance with food.

“Multiple people have been coming to the pantry and finding it empty or locked. This is due to lack of donations and no food being available,” she explained.

Some of them then knock on the Stokes’ door, then tell whomever answers it that they “hate” them because the pantry is not open.

Stokes said when Pastor Sharon Stokes was recently ill with COVID, she allowed telephone calls to go to voicemail.

“Multiple callers told her that they didn’t care that she was sick they wanted food ‘now’. One of these calls came at 3 a.m.,” Stokes said. “This type of behavior is ridiculous and very uncalled for and has been the last straw for us.”

Stokes said volunteers juggle pantry duties with full-time employment.

“We do our very best but we are human. We get sick sometimes. Sometimes we have personal obligations that come before the pantry,” she explained. “We give everything that we can but that is not good enough for a select few.”

Stokes said the pantry received support from the Tamaqua Area Hunger Campaign, several local organizations and a handful of community members. Still, she said, it was not enough to keep the pantry going.

“We are grateful for each and every one of these organizations and individuals who have helped keep the pantry doors open over the last 1 and ½ years,” she said. “Unfortunately, the harsh reality of nonprofit organizations is that without donations, they just cannot operate.”

Stokes said Stokes Ministry has no plans to close.

“We will still continue to service our community the best we can. Please reach out to us and we will try to help the best we can,” Stokes said.