THUNDER BAY – After months of being shuttered by COVID-19, the Thunder Bay Food Bank is reopening its doors to the public on Friday morning.
For now, the food bank will only be open every other Friday and clients will be served in the parking-lot area while renovations are completed to allow the building to fully reopen.
“We are thankful to RFDA, Roots to Harvest, the Salvation Army, and other organizations which were able to continue to feed those in need during the past few months,” said Reino Pitkanen, chair of the board of the Thunder Bay Food Bank.
"We are happy to be re-opening as most of the other local food banks have also done recently. We particularly appreciate that Grace Place operated a temporary bi-weekly food bank to serve our clients during the last two months. They will be able to stop this service as we open ours. “
Closed since mid-March, because of a lack of volunteers, most of whom are seniors, the shutdown allowed the food bank to undertake a deep cleaning, while also sealing the floor, painting, replacing doors and purchase the equipment needed to safely reopen, powered in part by the loan of Roots to Harvest staff.
Several other businesses, including Top Rung Painting, Superior Coatings, Auto Home Paints, Nu Steel Doors, Elite Auto Glass, Ade and Crown & Birch, provided discounted goods and services.
“We are so appreciative of the support which will make it possible to fully reopen safely,” Pitkanen said. “This has once again proved that Thunder Bay truly does have a giant heart.
Clients are asked to register for food bank service through 211 to ensure enough food is on hand and for records of service to be maintained.
