Liz Blaquiere, Kitchen Program coordinator at the Progress Center, shows off its new Community Kitchen cooler. Contributed

NORWAY — The Progress Center has returned to its free Community Kitchen’s Thursday night meals. The reopening and meal distribution will be held at 35 Cottage St. from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 4.

The Community Kitchen’s many years of planning reached fruition in 2020. With the help of grants and donations, the kitchen purchased a walk-in cooler and built a walk-up window. The cooler will allow TPC to distribute more produce, meat and milk to the public. The walk-up window will keep volunteers out of the elements and help to meet COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

Kitchen Program Coordinator Liz Blaquiere, a 22-year-employee of TPC, said she looks forward to getting all of the food programs back up and running. She said the in-person meals will not return until it’s safe.

The schedule is as follows: 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, food distribution; 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, dinners; and beginning Tuesday, April 6, return of senior lunch for adults 65 and older from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

More information on meals can be found on the TPC Facebook page and website, progresscentermaine.org.