The Salvation Army Community and Family Services in Cobourg will have a new home on Monday.
Salvation Army members including Manager of Community Family Services, Jim Alford and Food Bank Coordinator Aaron Araujo were busy packing things up at the current location at 259 Division Street will be moving to 884 Division Street, suite 212 (which is the former Northumberland News offices).
The Community and Family Services was only supposed to be at the current location in downtown Cobourg for six months after there were supposed to be renovations done at the original Community and Family Services on Swayne Street.
Alford said there were some “hiccups” with the renovations on Swayne Street and the lease was extended for another six months.
The former site on Swayne Street is at a “wait and see” point.
“We’re waiting between permits and decisions to be made on what shape the building is in and what we can do on that property.”
Currently the site on Division Street sees approximately 200 clients a week.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t extend it any further so we got another place that has potential for us.”
The current facility has approximately 1,700 square feet, but the new facility near the corner of Elgin and Division Streets has nearly 3,000 square feet which will help meet the needs of the community.
“We actually have a warehouse (at the new facility). We have no warehouse here. So everything gets stored in a closet basically. When you get donations pouring in because people are very generous in this community – we just have no place to put it.”
“So now we’ll have the opportunity to sort it and go through it and put it on display.”
Alford said the only concern is that it’s not downtown, but is hoping to make arrangements for people to access.
The new location will offer the same features including lunch on Monday and Friday’s, Food Bank open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday along with clothing and the health and rent bank.
The first day of service will be on Monday, January 29.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
