Help Save Royal Pantry – A Lifeline for Hundreds in Amsterdam, NY

My name is Everett Flint, and I’m the director of Royal Pantry Corporation, located at 47 Market St. in Amsterdam, NY. For the past year, Royal Pantry has been a vital resource in our city — providing fresh food and essential support to over 300 to 400 families every single week, from young children to seniors who rely on us to help them get through the month.

But today, we need your help.

The City of Amsterdam has shut down our pantry, claiming that because of the number of people we serve, we now fall under a zoning code that requires us to get special approval from the city’s planning commission. While we’ve been working directly with the mayor and city officials for over seven months, this violation came without warning and threatens to shut us down permanently.

We were also issued a formal warning that if we continue to distribute food or operate our pantry, we could face a $1,000 fine for each day of the violation — and even up to one year in jail. We are heartbroken and outraged that trying to feed our community has now become something we could be punished for.

We are doing everything we can to fight this — but now we also face possible legal fees and the real possibility that we may need to relocate just to keep doing what we’ve always done: helping people.

This GoFundMe will help us cover emergency expenses, including:

• Temporary relocation if necessary

• Legal representation and city filing fees

• And most importantly, allowing us to continue serving the hundreds of families who depend on us weekly

We understand there are many important causes in our community — and we respect every one of them. But if our mission has ever touched you, or if you believe no one should be punished for feeding the hungry, please consider donating whatever you can.

Whether it’s $5 or $50, your support matters. Your donation helps keep food on tables and hope alive in our city.

Thank you for standing with us,

Everett Flint

Director, Royal Pantry Corporation

47 Market St., Amsterdam, NY