OXFORD — Despite Oxford’s town manager and board of selectmen indicating that the town is committed to making improvements to the Station House Community Center that will allow the Helping Hands Food Pantry to operate from the King Street building, its future beyond October remains unclear.

Helping Hands’ Board Treasurer Linda Hooker advised the Advertiser Democrat that pantry clients will be able to pick up provisions at Oxford’s previous municipal headquarters at 85 Pleasant Street during the next regularly scheduled open day on Oct. 20 between 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., as usual.

But the food pantry’s board has not yet made a final decision on whether to move to the rec center or set up operations elsewhere. The board plans to meet on Oct. 19 and expects to advise its patrons on its future afterwards.

The building at 85 Pleasant Street no longer serves as the town municipal headquarters since Oxford’s administrative departments moved to 133 Pottle Street last month. It remains for sale but with no active contracts in negotiations Oxford’s Town Manager Adam Garland said the building will remain accessible for the food pantry and the public until is able to open around the corner at the rec center.

“We will keep the lights and heat on until the new space is ready,” Garland told the Advertiser Democrat. “We need to upgrade the rec center’s electrical system to accommodate the food pantry’s freezer and refrigeration equipment. It unfortunately will take longer than we’d like it to.”

Garland said that Oxford’s Recreation Director Kayla Laird is working to obtain bids from electrical contractors to set up a separate panel so usage between pantry rec center operations is billed and paid separately.

In addition to upgrading the electrical service, new lighting will be necessary. Construction has already been done to add privacy walls between food pantry operations and rec center activities and events. The town is funding the renovations.

Oxford has requested that Helping Hands provide copies of its non-profit status and certificate of liability insurance, similar to other groups who rent space at the rec center, and a summary of its services. As of last Thursday, Garland said a lease agreement is being developed between the two parties.

While the food pantry has never relied on financial support from the town, Select Board Chair Sharon Jackson advised that as a non-profit, Helping Hands is eligible to apply for funds in the future that would be paid from Oxford’s social service agency budget.

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Photo: Curb Appeal

Next »

Social Security benefits to jump by 8.7% next year