TRURO, NS
The Colchester Food Bank could be located in a new building at 580 Prince Street by the first of November.
During a Truro Town Council meeting on June 11, Don Reid, chair of the board for the food bank, said they hope to begin construction on the facility this summer
The food bank has been operating out of a town owned building on the corner of Forrester and Esplanade for about two and a half years, since the former Logan Street building was demolished.
“We looked at the possibility of buying an existing building., we looked at building., we looked at renting,” said Reid. “None of those options worked out. They were either too expensive or nothing was available…
“We were scratching our head and wondering what to do when Joe Pinto approached us.”
He said Pinto told them he had an empty lot on Prince Street, and would have a building constructed for them there at a reasonable price.
Plans for the new building include offices, a walk-in freezer and cooler, a waiting area, interview room, file room, teaching kitchen and about 3,000 square feet of storage space.
“Most people don’t realize how much food comes in and of our building in a year,” said Reid. “Last year, there was around half a million pounds of food that we took in and distributed to the community.”
The building would have in-floor heating, LED lighting and heat pumps. The front would be finished in dark brick, with the sides a lighter brick and steel siding at the back.
A draft contract has been prepared and is expected to be signed within the next two weeks, with construction beginning mid-July.
Reid said the Community Credit Union has agreed to an interest-free loan, and once construction begins there will fundraising campaigns taking place.
“We’re exciting about it, and we’re trying to get the community excited about it,” added Reid.
