The Jackson Food Pantry, in place to assist those in need – and housed at the DPW – has been taken over by rats – and nothing is being done about it, sources tell TLS.
Pictures obtained by TLS show containers of peanut butter and boxes broken, with rats captured by traps.
“This has been an ongoing issue, but the Jackson administration is not doing anything about it, despite numerous requests,” a source in the Township stated.
TLS has reached out to Councilman Mordy Burnstein, who stated he will be urging the Township Administration to make this a priority.
“This is disgusting and not hygienic,” Burnstein said.
After receiving complaints from workers and food pantry volunteers, Jackson Council President Jennifer Kuhn is calling for a health and safety inspection and full review by the township after visiting the facility firsthand today.
Additionally, the council is concerned about other health and safety issues affecting workers.
“The council believes that several critical issues require immediate attention across various departments. The Department of Public Works (DPW) is currently facing a rat infestation, raising significant health concerns. Additionally, it has come to our attention that the Police Department (JPD) is experiencing problems with their ventilation system, which has reportedly caused health concerns for the officers,” Kuhn said in a statement today. “There is a growing frustration within the council regarding the lack of action on these issues, some of which have persisted for over a decade. It is clear that we need change more than ever. The council is committed to ensuring accountability and expects the administration to take responsibility and action regarding the challenges facing our town and department buildings.”
Ms. Kuhn and the council feel it is unacceptable for anyone to work in such conditions.
“Of particular concern is the food pantry, which is currently infested with rats. This situation places vulnerable residents who rely on food assistance in an unsatisfactory and unsanitary environment. We believe immediate steps must be taken to address these pressing concerns,” Kuhn said in a statement released on behalf of the council.
Jackson Rats Suing Township Over Trap-Infested Food Pantry
A group of leading activists from Jackson Township’s rodent community is suing the township for allowing the local food pantry to become infested with rat traps and other lethal objects that threaten the very existence of the local rat community.
“What good is a food pantry filled with delicious peanut butter and swiss cheese, if my head gets chopped off inside a rat trap before I can even put the food inside my mouth?!” said veteran rodent and longtime Jackson resident, William Vermin. “I’d rather order take-out and dine at home with my head fully intact than eat out in a fancy food pantry while watching my head getting snapped off in a rat guillotine,” he said.
Some members of the rat community have even gone so far as to label the rat-trap-infested food pantry an ‘act of terror’.
“I do not believe the food pantry suddenly became infested with rap traps due to neglect, abandonment or carelessness,” said Marty Ratburg, a 33-year old rodent who currently serves as Senior Vice President of the Rodent Society of America. “These trappings are clearly intentional acts of terror, in which rogue human beings are planting traps inside food pantries all across the globe in an effort to instill fear inside the hearts and minds of the rodent communities.”
“Bottom line,” the senior rat warned, “we better act fast before it’s too late, or else rats all across the globe will never again experience the joy of savoring a creamy dab of peanut butter or a smooth slice of cheese without the threat of losing their heads in the process.”