Q. I work at a social service agency where I have both Jewish (some observant) and gentile clients. Recently the local food bank moved to a new location in a church in the same neighborhood. Should I be referring Jewish clients to other food banks outside of the area or are Jewish clients permitted to continue to use the neighborhood food bank even though it is now located in a church?

A. Question #126 on this venue addresses the case of a Jew who is an alcoholic, if he is permitted to enter a church (even possibly the main sanctuary) to attend an AA meeting?

We answered; It is forbidden to enter a house of avodah zarah or a church. (Y.D. 150,1- 157,3 – Shach ibid. 149,1.) R’ Moshe Feinstein Zt”l (Igros Moshe O.C. 4,40,26) prohibits students playing ball in a sports hall that belongs to a church, even if no religious images are present. (See Rivavos Ephraim 3, 302,3)

However Poskim do permit voting in a locale adjoining or connected to a church, which specifically set up a venue for that purpose and it is marked or is known to be so. This sanction is only ex post facto, when no other voting location was made available or is found close by. (Teshuvos Vehanchogos 2: 410).

Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a permits using the A.A. church location, if the meetings are not held in the sanctuary, it is clearly identified or known as a setting for social or community activities, and when no better site is accessible.
The same guidelines would apply to the offices of a food bank.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a