ATHOL – After two months of planning, fundraising and some heavy lifting, the food pantry operated by the Athol Area YMCA is set to open its doors in its new, larger location.

The new spot, however, isn’t far from the old one. Area residents who have used the food pantry will now be getting their groceries at 488 Main St. in Athol – next door to the Y’s Community Center at 496 Main St., where the food pantry had been located since it opened in December.

The new facility will open on Monday, Aug. 31, and provides approximately 1,100 square feet for freezers, refrigerators and shelving. When it was at the community center, the pantry only had 400 square feet in which to operate.

Laurie Saisa, the Y’s anti-hunger program director, said the food pantry is on the verge of being accepted into the Worcester County Food Bank, which will result in a greater supply and variety of food options for patrons.

“That’s good news, given the ever-growing problem of food insecurity. We’ve still got a few days left in the month of August, but so far we’re over 165 people for the month,” said Saisa. “And remember, we were closed three days this week for the move. Last month we served 170, 175 people.”

Saisa said she hopes the new storefront will give people a feeling of shopping in a grocery store.

She said a number of individuals, organizations and businesses have contributed various kinds of support to the new food pantry. These include Mel Talbot, Athol Trading Post, Whipps, Inc. (through the George and Pauline Charitable Fund), Hannaford’s, the Tap House, Saisa Services, the Athol-Orange Driving School, Project Bread, the Reading Refinery, Athol Senior Center, the Lindsay Trust, United Way, and the Athol Royalston Regional School District Family & Community Center.

Saisa pointed out that the YMCA Food Pantry does not compete with the food pantry at the ARRSD Family & Community Center.

“Both of these facilities are very much needed in this community,” she said. “Remember, the food pantry at the high school is only open Wednesday afternoon and, for a lot of people, what they’re able to get there may only last three or four days, if they’re lucky. It’s hard to stretch things for an entire week. Also, our location offers food assistance to people living mainly in and around the core area of Athol. It’s more convenient than having to find transportation to the high school.”

The YMCA Food Pantry is open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.