Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Napanee’s Salvation Army food bank is settling into its new location at 81 Dairy Ave.
While organization is still underway, the food bank is fully operational to assist those in need from inside the former TriBoard building.
“We’ve been planning this move, even before we knew this spot was available,” said Abby Mills, director of community ministries for the Napanee Salvation Army. “We knew that the old building (on Richard Street) did not work for us well. It also had apartment buildings in the back that we were not in a position to utilize so by relocating here to 81 Dairy Avenue and putting that building on the market at the beginning of (March), it means that we free up those apartments to be used in the community at a time when there is such a need for housing.”
The new building is also a better fit for what they need.
“For one thing there are no stairs in the building which was a bit of an impediment for us because we did not have space on any one floor to store food and office space,” said Mills. “It was constantly moving food from one floor to another. There was limited parking. This building has lots of parking, it has green space, it has program space for us that will enable us to offer many programs to the community that have been on hold for some time. Once we get settled in and get training for them we’ll be able to offer things like anger management for kids, a program the Salvation Army offers called Pathway of Hope that helps people to set goals and improve skills that will allow them to change their life and to go back to offering other programs that we’ve had on hold like our bible studies and other spiritual components of what the Salvation Army is able to offer to the community. It’s really an exciting time for us.”
Moving to another part of town has the added benefit of allowing the Salvation Army to spread out services across the town. Morningstar Mission, which is just a block from the Salvation Army’s former site, remains close to the downtown core to help that section of the community.
As they set up in their new building, also on the agenda is to find a new home for the fundraising thrift store.
“We are still looking for a location for the thrift store,” said Mills, noting the store has moved out of its former location on Mill Street East. “We still plan to open the thrift store when we find the right spot. Although you may hear that we’re closed permanently, it is not true. Our goal is still to re-open in the community.”
The Salvation Army food bank retained its same phone number with the move and can be reached at 613-354-7633.