LITCHFIELD — Litchfield Food Bank Director Rayna Leibowitz shed tears of joy when she heard the facility would get a $50,000 grant from the Good Shepherd Food Bank to build a new building.
The food bank is recently located at 491 Richmond Road in the former Gowell’s Store building. The building’s owner, Rick Gowell, legalized the operation of the food bank there after the construction of Gowell’s Shop ‘n Save.
The Litchfield Food Bank has been at this location since March 6, 2019.
Leibowitz said they were first located on the far right of the building. Last year, they moved to the opposite end of the building, which was renovated with access to a bloodless room.
“The food bank moved to this end of construction around the same time that the statewide drive-thru was being rolled out for food banks, and it’s a smart style for us because this area is physically smaller, through a lot, than we had before,” she said.
The food bank serves up to forty-five families per week, but the existing point is less than that. The service is eligible for those living in Litchfield.
“It just turns out that you are a resident of Litchfield, and we will offer other people the opportunity to shop every week at this place,” he said.
Leibowitz said it is difficult to provide an estimate of the domain’s existing domain, as it is not shaped like a square or rectangle, but it is a small domain with 4 refrigerators, 3 freezers and several shelves.
He said the pantry implemented for the subsidy in December and that it would be, in particular, with the new building, adding structure work, a concrete slab, frames, doors, windows, a heating and electricity formula and shelving.
The grant required some correspondence.
“We have the budget to invest in the process, but it didn’t require a matching amount,” Leibowitz said.
With the value of hard work and fabrics fluctuating wildly, Leibowitz said it was unclear how much the overall task would charge, and that when he spoke to contractors, they shouldn’t provide a false estimate of the cost of everything in the spring.
“It’s a big unknown,” he said of the costs. We will try to mobilize as many volunteer works as possible, solicit donations and contributions and try to make it all work. “
Leibowitz said that while a new location was selected, he can’t say exactly where it will be because arrangements have yet to be confirmed. However, he said it will be larger and in a more central location.
“It’s a more convenient position because it’s physically focused on the city,” he said. “It’s important. Litchfield is a wonderful community, and if someone has to go a long way, that’s possibly enough to deter them from hiring our services. “. Having a central location is really desirable and that’s what we’re looking for.
The larger construction will also allow the food bank to serve more people and allow other people to enter the facility which canned or canned foods they prefer. The existing facility is too small for consumers to walk around and choose their items.
“When we have the largest building, we can invite visitors to come in and make their own selections,” he said. “It’s more comfortable for them and allows them to get the food that their circle of relatives will eat. I can put a can of canned peas or a can of canned carrots in a box for distribution, but if this circle of relatives doesn’t care about canned peas, they will never eat them. Self-selection is desirable, but we just didn’t have room to bring in customers. »
And while the existing food bank is small, Leibowitz said consumers never go hungry. The new building, on the other hand, will offer greater variety and allow them to potentially serve more people.
For the future, the approximate schedule is that it begins in the spring.
“Much will depend on the availability of building materials,” Leibowitz said, adding that with the existing restrictions and limitations with building materials, there are many variables and uncertainties to come in terms of determining an opening date for the new facility.
“We are very pleased to be able to start the process, and we will move as quickly and as far as possible this year of construction,” he said.
Leibowitz said she was sure of what the future would bring.
“It’s such a positive event,” he said. It’s a popularity of what we do, and we’re very grateful for that popularity and excited to continue our efforts. “
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