Cathedral City Supports Community Pantry With Conditions After Code Concern

A new update this evening on a free community pantry in Cathedral City. We first told you about this earlier in the week, after the city issued the pantry’s creator a code enforcement field advisory.

Christina Bruno built a small wooden pantry and placed it in the front yard of her home to help neighbors in need. Inside, people can find canned foods, boxed pasta, cereal, and personal hygiene items. Everything is available to anyone, no questions asked.

Bruno says code enforcement officials stopped by, took photos of the pantry and left a notice saying she had 10 days to cease and desist. She was not home at the time, but contacted the city the next morning for clarification.

Tonight, Bruno tells us the city is not shutting down her effort. Instead, they are asking for modifications so the pantry meets local guidelines. That includes making the structure smaller, updating its appearance, and securing it permanently in the ground to ensure safety.

“The city is fully supporting what I am doing. They are backing me up,” Bruno said. “They just need it to be a little bit more smaller, more aesthetically pleasing, and to be permanently posted in the ground for safety issues.”

Bruno says she plans to make the required changes and continue the pantry’s mission of helping neighbors who may be struggling.

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