After decades at the same location, the Yarmouth Food Bank will be moving. The food bank society has been renting space off of Glebe Street for 30 years.
Food Bank spokesman and founder, Reverend Bill Newell says they knew a move was necessary. “It’s in a basement with no lights and very little heat and dampness, but lately it’s gotten worse, so we just felt we needed to move. This gives us some security. We have a lease with the town for a number years, minimal rent. What will go into renovations will cover what we’re paying for rent now over a 5 year period. That way we’ll have a building that’s more usable, it will allow more people to be inside out of the weather, especially out of the wind by moving from one side to the pother, where they can’t now. Nor west winds where we are now are brutal especially in the winter.”
Newell says the new location will be on Herbert Street, next to the Milton ball field, at the site of the former Ben’s Bakery store.
While it is farther from downtown, he doesn’t think it will be an issue for clients.
“it’s not ideal in terms of location, we realize that, but we have clients that come from all over the county, not just from centre town or south end as some people seem to think.. We’re on the bus route, the bus stops right down below near the ballfield. People come with cars or get friends to bring them and get a taxi home. They get uptown to go to the provincial building, they get uptown to go to the shopping mall.”
Newell says parking will be better and the space is larger and has a loading dock.
The town of Yarmouth owns the property.
Town council passed a motion Thursday night to lease the property to the Food Bank Society for one dollar a month.
Rev. Newell says when the food bank opens in the fall, they hope to be in their new facility.