Press Release – Haymarket Food Pantry Will Relocate to New Facility

Following is an excerpt of a press release distributed on May 15, 2020. Click to view the full press release.


Haymarket Regional Food Pantry Will Relocate to New Space and switch to Grocery Store Experience for clients

**For Immediate Release**
May 15, 2020

Gainesville, VA. – The Haymarket Regional Food Pantry will move its operation from Haymarket, Virginia to the Gateway Business Center, located at 7669 Limestone Drive, Suite 105, Gainesville, Virginia. The move will take place in the weeks between May 15 through the end of June 2020.

Since its inception in 2005, this is the fourth location for the food pantry: St. Paul’s, Washington Street, Jefferson Street and now Limestone Drive. After so many moves, “we are looking forward to settling into this space for a while” says Executive Director, Eileen F. Smith.

Centrally located within our service area, the new location provides an open floor plan that we can build to suit our needs, one level access eliminating our need to carry food up and down stairs, and above ground space providing a brighter and more welcoming environment. “We are excited to have found a space that makes it easier for our clients and volunteers of all abilities to access, and for us to continue giving H.O.P.E. and Helping Other People Eat” says Board Member, Mary Lou Scarborough.

The move also provides the opportunity to redesign our pantry as a “choice pantry” which gives a feel of an actual grocery store. In the past, the HRFP provided clients some fixed items (chosen by volunteers) and some pick optional items (chosen by clients). Our new setup at the Limestone Drive location will encourage the clients to make their own choices based on their family needs. “We are excited to welcome our clients to the new space and give them a more empowering experience” says Cindy McCormick, food inventory volunteer. Given the current COVID-19 guidelines, we will modify our distribution methods to accommodate social distancing and other safety practices, as we adjust each week towards full standard operations.

To this end, we have suspended all client services and refocused our resources on moving and reopening to distribute food to clients. We will announce Food Distribution dates and new hours in the upcoming weeks, and a Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be scheduled once we can safely have a gathering larger than 10 people.

About the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry:
The Haymarket Regional Food Pantry (HRFP) is a community-based organization comprised entirely of volunteers dedicated to eliminating hunger by providing food to individuals and families in Haymarket, Gainesville, Manassas and the surrounding areas. We rely entirely on food and financial support from our donors, and are thankful for the support that we receive from individuals, local churches, businesses and organizations, and our team of volunteers. Visit our website: www.HaymarketFoodPantry.org.

Click to view the full press release.