Prepping for long-term social distancing, the Blaine Food Bank to close August 5 for resurfacing

To make outdoor food distribution safer and easier, the Blaine Food Bank will close for one day of distribution, on Wednesday, August 5, to resurface the outdoor area where customers currently pick up food.

The food bank moved its food distribution outside in March to meet physical distancing requirements and to ensure safety for customers. The area has several types and levels of pavement, with edges that make it difficult to maneuver the carts that staff and volunteers use to move food.

“When clients are pushing carts, they run into an edge and stuff falls out,” said Sally Church, food bank operations manager. “It’s just not safe.”

The resurfacing will cost the food bank about $15,000, she said.

Resurfacing will begin on Tuesday, August 4 and be finished on Thursday, August 6. The food bank will re-open for distribution from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, August 7. The Blaine Food Bank distributes food at its location at 500 C Street from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Fridays, and 5-7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

The food bank serves about 430 families a week and also makes home deliveries, Church said. Home deliveries will continue during the resurfacing.

With the resurfacing, the Blaine Food Bank is preparing to continue serving clients outside for the foreseeable future, Church said. Following the resurfacing, the food bank is getting a 20-foot-by-30-foot commercial tent for the area.

“We anticipate that this will go into the colder seasons, and we have to look ahead and try to think what’s going to happen and how to protect our clients and volunteers from wind and rain and snow,” she said.