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Toys, clothes, games and other gifts are stored in preparation for the annual Christmas Sharing Program at the Lowville Food Pantry on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Lowville Food Pantry Chief Executive Officer Daniel N. Taylor shares a few words about the new pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., during a grand opening on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Handmade gifts, like mittens and scarves, are stored in preparation for the annual Christmas Sharing Program at the Lowville Food Pantry on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Fridges and shelves are stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy in the main shopping area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave, on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Cabinets are stocked with self-care essentials in the main shopping area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Toys, clothes, games and other gifts are stored in preparation for the annual Christmas Sharing Program at the Lowville Food Pantry on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
A large photo of the former building sits in the back storehouse area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Lowville Food Pantry Chief Executive Officer Daniel N. Taylor, sitting, is joined Thursday by the team that helped pull off the grand opening of the new pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
A sign that hung in the old food pantry location, which had no heat, hangs upstairs in the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Photos of the former building are on display in the lobby of the new Lowville Food Pantry, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Barrels to be converted into a community garden space sit outside the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
An industrial cooler holds reserve products in the back storehouse area in the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
People tour the main shopping area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Toys, clothes, games and other gifts are stored in preparation for the annual Christmas Sharing Program at the Lowville Food Pantry on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Handmade gifts, like mittens and scarves, are stored in preparation for the annual Christmas Sharing Program at the Lowville Food Pantry on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Fridges and shelves are stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy in the main shopping area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave, on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Cabinets are stocked with self-care essentials in the main shopping area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
The lobby of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Shelves are stocked in the main shopping area of the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Toys, clothes, games and other gifts are stored in preparation for the annual Christmas Sharing Program at the Lowville Food Pantry on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Lowville Food Pantry Chief Executive Officer Daniel N. Taylor, sitting, is joined Thursday by the team that helped pull off the grand opening of the new pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Winter coats are stored at the Lowville Food Pantry, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
A sign that hung in the old food pantry location, which had no heat, hangs upstairs in the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Photos of the former building are on display in the lobby of the new Lowville Food Pantry, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
Barrels to be converted into a community garden space sit outside the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
Kara Dry
An industrial cooler holds reserve products in the back storehouse area in the new Lowville Food Pantry building, 5502 Trinity Ave., on Thursday morning. Kara Dry/Watertown Daily Times
LOWVILLE — The T-shirts worn by Lowville Food Pantry leaders Thursday morning said it all: “When someone knocks, our door opens.”
Community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the pantry’s new expansion, a two-story, 3,600-square-foot red steel pantry building at 5502 Trinity Ave. The property was “sold” to the organization by QubicaAMF Worldwide LLC for $1 in 2016.
The new space features a reception area and intake room where clients can have privacy when applying for services. To further ensure confidentiality, paperwork will be passed through a window to volunteers who will help fill food orders for clients, who will then leave through a separate exit.
The majority of the building will be for the storage of food items. In the main storage area, freezer and refrigerator units have been installed to help prolong the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products. The space also features a large walk-in cooler.
“Today we’re proud to open our new pantry,” Chief Executive Officer Daniel N. Taylor said. “A lot of hard work from the community, volunteers, and from all your donations helped build this building. And we finally got it to where we can actually open it, run it and feed the community.”
The food pantry purchases inventory from county businesses and local growers and is a fully volunteer organization, with volunteers contributing over 1,000 hours a month to provide services to those in need.
The project, which has been in the works for the past few years and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was covered by various grants combined with capital funds and private donations. According to Mr. Taylor, the project ended up costing between $250,000 and $300,000 after materials costs increased amid the pandemic.
The older building that the pantry extended is about 70 years old and has some issues, Mr. Taylor said. All the insulation is now at the bottom of the walls, so it needs new insulation; the siding is old tin and is starting to rot in places and cause other issues; and the roof needs to be replaced. New windows have been installed, and the next project will be to address the space and make it workable for everyone.
“That one (the older building), we’d like to turn into a community building that can be used for the community and for emergency purposes,” Mr. Taylor said. “It would, in the event of an emergency, hold about 100 beds, if not more. And there’s quite an interest in making it look better than it does.”
In the spring, Mr. Taylor said large blue barrels off to the side of the building will hopefully get cut in half and be part of the community garden that will be created on the piece of property adjacent to the left side of the building. The idea is for the vegetables to come right out of the community garden right over to the pantry. There is also a plan to obtain an outdoor freezer for the pantry so less space will be needed for one inside.
The upper level over the warehouse, which will eventually be fully formed offices, is being utilized for the organization’s Christmas Sharing Program, which provides toys, clothing and food for families for the holidays.
Once the ribbon was cut by Mr. Taylor with a large pair of scissors, guests were invited inside to tour the new facility. Along with light refreshments available under a tent, guests could sign their names into a keepsake book to mark the occasion.
“This allows us to serve the community in a larger area,” Mr Taylor said. “We serve all of Lewis County, so with the capacity that we now have, we can increase the number of families we serve; increase the programs and services we provide.”
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.