By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Food Pantry officials are hoping for a mid-April opening for their new building at 7th and Clay in Junction City. "They started construction in September and they're going to be done in mid April," said the Chairman of the Building Committee, Brad Carlton in a recent JC Now interview on 107.9 / 1420 KJCK.
There is a lack of enough space at the food pantry's current 138 West 3rd Street location where approximately 1,400 people are served monthly.
The project began when Geary County provided $50,000 to purchase a lot and Hutton Construction helped with the project.
Some of the features in the new metal frame building in addition to more space include a covered loading pad to reduce damage to donated food, a covered area outside in front of the building, an intake area where people can register, a larger walk-in cooler and freezer and off-street parking.
Approximately $550,000 has been raised and about $100,000 more is needed to finish the building. Fundraising is continuing.