(5/15) The Thurmont Food Bank is
looking for about 1000 square feet of space to
move into from their current location in St.
John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on North
Church Street.
The number of families the food bank serves
continues to grow, which means more space is
required to store the food items. According to
Rev. Sally Giffin-Joyner, the food bank
director, the Thurmont Food Bank served 100
families and 341 individuals in April 2008, up
from 49 families and 146 individuals in April
2007.
“We have seen a dramatic increase in use,”
said Giffin-Joyner.
The need for more space means that the
current space the food back occupies in St.
John’s is fast becoming too small.
“We understand that the Thurmont Food Bank
is now in need of a different space. … The
Thurmont Food Bank simply needs components
that we cannot offer,” Rev. K. Craig Moorman
of St. John’s wrote in a letter to the town
commissioners.
In April, the food bank asked the town
commissioners to either provide them with
space or help them find new space.
“I really think the town could step up in
this instance and lend a hand,” Commissioner
Robert Lookingbill said.
Giffin-Joyner provided the commissioners of
a list of their space needs. The food bank is
seeking at least 1000 square feet of space for
storage, an office, a bathroom and waiting
room. The space also needs to be handicapped
accessible, heated, air conditioned, have
electricity that will support multiple
freezers and refrigerators, water for cleaning
and the bathroom, an entrance not visible to
the general public, garage door, lockable
doors and garbage pick up.
However, what is uncertain is whether the
food bank would be willing to pay rent and how
much it could afford.
Mayor Martin Burns suggested the town might
match private donations raised for rent.
Giffin-Joyner said that while she believed
participating churches might pledge to pay a
portion of the rent, any money spend on rent
“takes money out of the mouths of people
you’re trying to feed.”
Now that they have a better feel for the
space needs for the Thurmont Food Bank, the
commissioners will consider their options and
how they might help the food bank.
