AUGUSTA — When the Augusta Food Bank opens its doors Monday, it will have in place a new system of setting up appointments to make the process smoother for its customers in need.

The phone system is one of the changes that come as the result of the relocation of the organization from its former home in the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s parish hall to 161 Mount Vernon Ave.

Food bank officials had targeted early December for an opening date, but a severe late October storm delayed getting power to the new building, and a delay in getting internet and telephone service pushed off the opening date a second time.

This weekend, volunteers are expected to help complete the move from the current home on Summer Street and a warehouse on Augusta’s east side to the new Mount Vernon Avenue facility.

Daniel Wathen, former board chairman, said a grand opening event is expected at a later date.

Susan Williams, the food bank manager, said a dedicated number — 213-2233 — has been set up so that starting Monday, existing customers in Augusta and Manchester can call between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to set up a time to pick up the food they need. New customers can call between 11 a.m. and noon to start the registration process and get information about what documentation they must provide on income and eligibility to use the food bank.

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Williams said the hours of service are also being expanded by a half-hour. The bank will be now be open from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“We have been committed to being open one evening a week,” she said. “We used to be open Monday evenings, but now we’ll be open Tuesdays from 5 to 7.”

The reason for the change is that many holidays fall on Monday, which limits evening visits, she said.

The food bank serves more than 1,000 people in 400 households in Augusta and Manchester.

Augusta businessman Norman Pomerleau donated the Mount Vernon Avenue property to the food bank in March 2016, and the food bank launched a fundraising campaign to raise the money needed to build the 4,200-square-foot facility, which would house a warehouse and distribution facility as well as offices.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ


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