FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — For more than a decade, the Gates of Hope in Fall River has served residents in need.

But now, the food pantry is searching for a new home.

Faith Bon Jovi, president of Gates of Hope, told 12 News the city recently took control of the building that her nonprofit operates out of.

“We’re really hoping something works out soon because we don’t want to remain closed,” she said, adding that the nonprofit helps roughly 400 families each month. “It hurts us and we know it hurts them.”

Bon Jovi said the Flint Neighborhood Association offered the old Davol School building to Gates of Hope as a headquarters.

The association’s goal was to refurbish the building, but it did not meet the city’s 10-year deadline to do so.

The city has been pushing for awhile to regain ownership of the building. Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan said the city was successful in its efforts because the building has since been condemned.

“We think there’s a much greater need for the building to be rehabilitated,” Coogan said. “That’s what this is about.”

Coogan said the city’s goal is to renovate the building into a “bright shining star” for the Flint neighborhood.

“We’re going to put it out to bid and we’re going to try to require some affordable housing, maybe some veteran’s housing,” he said.

But that means the food pantry has to move out.

Bon Jovi told 12 News the nonprofit is still operating its mobile food pantry, but other “by-appointment” services are suspended until a new location is secured.

“Keep us in your thoughts and prayers,” she said. “This isn’t our decision and this isn’t what we wanted to happen. But the city wanted the building back.”

There’s no specific timeline for when Gates of Hope needs to leave the building, and Coogan stressed that the city isn’t rushing the nonprofit out the door in a matter of days.

But Bon Jovi said she was told to move out “as soon as possible,” adding that the process could take them months.

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