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The Need For A New Home
Our programs and impact have outgrown our space. Currently housed in the lower level of a church, the physical limitations of our facility are real.
Still, over one million pounds of goods move through our space each year.
No elevator or accessible entrance
Imagine needing a helping hand, only to be stopped by a flight of stairs.
At our food pantry, this is a daily reality for too many. Our patrons, many of whom are elderly or have disabilities, must navigate a single, central staircase that is a struggle for them to climb. In the cold rain or blistering heat, they’re forced to sit outside and ask a stranger to shop for them.
This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier that robs them of their dignity and, at times, prevents them from getting the help they desperately need. We believe everyone deserves to walk through our doors with pride, not just endure a struggle to get food on the table. A new building will ensure we can serve all our neighbors with the dignity and respect they deserve.
CROWDED, CRAMPED ENTRANCE
The logjam begins
After navigating the stairs, our patrons face another challenge: a crowded hallway that serves as the only waiting area. This small space is the central hub for everyone—people arriving, leaving, and carrying out food and supplies.
The result is a constant bottleneck of people and carts, creating a chaotic and overwhelming environment for our guests. A visit that should be a source of relief often turns into a stressful and undignified experience.
TRICKY Logistics
Inadequate storage and loading areas
Our food pantry is fueled by the dedication of volunteers and the kindness of our partners, but our building is holding us back.
Every week, a truck arrives with thousands of pounds of food. But without a loading dock, our heroic volunteers, and even our local firefighters, must unload each pallet by hand—one box at a time. It’s a physically demanding and inefficient process that puts incredible strain on our team. This isn’t just about moving food; it’s about the hours of unnecessary labor and the potential for injury to the people who give their time to serve our neighbors.
A new building isn’t just a solution to a logistical problem; it’s an investment in the safety of our volunteers and a sign of respect for the dedicated community partners who help us serve those in need.
BURSTING AT THE SEAMS
Our current building’s inadequate storage has become a major safety concern.
To make room for incoming donations, we’ve had to get creative, often storing essential items like bedding and housewares in stairwells and on the stairs themselves. This creates obstacles that can make it difficult for our elderly and disabled patrons to navigate the building, and it’s a safety risk for everyone who enters our doors. It also prevents us from organizing our space in a way that respects the dignity of those we serve.
A new facility will provide the secure, organized space we need to serve our community with dignity and provide a shopping experience that is safe, easy, and respectful for everyone.
Our vision extends far beyond a new building—it’s about building a better future for our community.
A new home isn’t just about solving our current challenges; it’s about expanding our reach and deepening our impact.
With a new facility, we can eliminate the obstacles our patrons face, create a safe and dignified environment for our volunteers, and streamline our operations. This will allow us to serve more people than ever before and welcome every person who needs our help with the dignity and respect they deserve.
A new home isn’t just about what we can do, but what we can start doing.
Our new Community Help Center will:
Our current facility’s limitations in space and layout mean we can only focus on our core food and clothing distribution. A new, purpose-built building will include even more capabilities.
PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL
Provide ground-level access for all guests and volunteers, improving safety, dignity, and efficiency.
The new space will also give us and our Patrons the privacy needed to address anyone in an immediate crisis or requires additional one-on-one support.
PUT COMMUNITY FIRST
Offer a warm and welcoming environment designed for connection. Foster spaces grounded in trauma-informed design principles – calm, inclusive and empowering
EXPANDED STORAGE CAPACITY
Include a dedicated space for each program and season. Additional square footage for dry goods and cold storage.
ADD ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING Space
This new space will be more than just a pantry; it will be a true community resource center, empowering our neighbors with the tools they need to build a more stable future for themselves and their families. It will also provide space for partner organizations to host clinics and classes.