Massive fire destroys Piscataway food pantry days after another one burned down
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (PIX11) — It provided free food and clothing for hundreds of families throughout Central Jersey, and was also home to other lifesaving charities, but now a massive fire has shut down the Fish, Incorporated building in Piscataway, days after another Central Jersey pantry was destroyed by fire.
Nance Cunningham drove 20 miles to see the burnt-out shell of the 100-year-old building on New Market Road. She said that she’d cried at seeing the site because it had meant so much to many people, including her.
“It’s where I got sober 45 years ago,” Cunningham said, standing outside of the three-story structure, which also housed a community center where Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other groups met weekly.
“People are shocked,” Cunningham continued, “Many people whose lives were saved here.”
The fire was reported just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday. It was brought under control by the Piscataway Fire Department, with help from a half-dozen other Central Jersey fire departments, after about five hours of firefighting.
It happened less than a week after a fire at the Open Cupboard Food Pantry and Thrift Shop in Clinton, New Jersey.
The coincidence was not lost on Mayor Brian Wahler of Piscataway, who spent the day coordinating fire and recovery efforts.
“Highly unusual circumstances,” Wahler said about the two fires that happened just days apart, “but that’ll be for the fire officials to determine, the fire inspectors, as well as the buildings department.”
Lisa Couch is the president of Fish, Inc. Unlike some other food pantries, it distributed all types of food, not just non-perishables. She said that with the Christian calendar holidays coming this spring, the needs of the families she serves are specific and many.
“I need hams, I need chickens, I need turkeys, because my freezers are gone, and everything that was in them is gone,” she said in an interview.
Food donations, she said, aren’t possible for now, but monetary donations are, and can help the most, currently.
Anyone wanting to donate, she said, can send a check to:
Treasurer
Fish Inc., Dunellen Area
P.O. Box 8565
Piscataway, NJ 08855-8006
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the organization.
Also, additional information is on the organization’s website, or by emailing admin@fishdunellenarea.org.
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