Food bank changing its hours of operation

The Blaine Food Bank is changing its hours for distribution, as well as the way visitors can collect their groceries.

Starting on Monday, September 2 (Labor Day), the Blaine Food Bank will be open on Mondays and will be closed on Tuesdays. Its new days and hours for distribution will be Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Blaine Food Bank is also changing the way it distributes food items. Instead of receiving pre-packed bags and boxes, people who visit the food bank will be able to choose their own groceries, within certain limits.

Blaine Food Bank vice president Joan Smith attributed the change to a lack of space and an increasing number of visits. “We are short of room here for bagging everything, and we’re getting so busy,” she said.

Smith said that the food bank will continue to leave certain food items in its outside area for clients to take. These are food items that have been received from grocery stores and are nearing their expiration dates.