OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen County Legislator Tom Harmon stated that the Village’s mobile food pantry event is being abused by patrons.

SILVER CREEK — A monthly event in the village has received such an overwhelming response from the region that some are worried the well-intentioned privilege is being abused.

A monthly mobile food pantry event is sponsored by FeedMore of WNY, the Silver Creek Food Pantry, and the Village of Silver Creek. The next event is Tuesday, April 23, beginning at 11 a.m., at the Village Municipal Building parking lot.

Deanna Borrello, who has volunteered to distribute items at the regular event, asked Mayor Jeff Hornburg if the Village could place a limit on how many servings can be collected by a single vehicle. Currently, as long as information is provided for the residents receiving the items, servings are allotted to each household requesting items, even if another vehicle is picking up the items for them.

The Village abides by FeedMore of WNY’s regulations for distribution, which does not require proof of income or those receiving items to be residents of the municipality where the event is held.

Borrello noted that at a recent mobile food pantry event, supplies ran out while there were still people in line waiting for their turn. She also noted that several vehicles slowed the distribution because they were receiving allotments for 4-5 households.

County Legislator Tom Harmon agreed with Borrello that a limit should be set.

“Now everyone knows, in the Village, this is happening every fourth Tuesday. People from Jamestown and people from other counties are all coming down and loading up,” Harmon said. “That’s OK if they need it, that’s why it’s there … but you’re going to have a handful of people that are certainly going to take advantage of the situation. That’s what’s happening.”

Hornburg stated the issue will be hard to regulate, but shared optimism that a greater amount of supplies could be delivered because of the needs of the Village and those who visit for the regular monthly event.