279 Walker’s Mills Road will soon house the Bethel Area Food Pantry and the District Exchange. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen

BETHEL — Executive Director Dave Bean of Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry said they have purchased the buildings at 279 Walkers Mills Road in Bethel, directly across the street from Telstar Middle/High School on Route 26.

“We will be relying heavily on help from local contractors, community support, and fundraising to complete this project and get our new doors open to the community,” said Bean.

At Bethel Town Meeting on Wednesday night Bean stood and made a case for the $25,256.32  that he had requested as part of the “local contributions” article 36. “Anything that happens, we’re there. Asking for that money is just to help. Rick and Ron Savage are the reason we got into that building,” said Bean.

Last Thursday, two of the 94 volunteers they rely on, were on-site. Sue Howe was vacuuming the space while Mary McVey was removing unwanted items. McVey runs the food pantry.

For the past eight years the food pantry team has worked out of 1,500 square feet in the basement of The Nazarene Church at 16 Church Street in Bethel. Asked who they serve, Bean said, “all of Oxford County and beyond.”

The district exchange was opened 32 years ago by Maryvonne Wheeler, Cathy Newell, and Madeleine Henley but closed before the pandemic and has been closed since then. Wheeler will guide the reopening of the clothing exchange.

Their new combined location has 5,400 square feet with two 1,000 square foot apartments on the second floor. Bean said they would like to rent those and the detached three-car garage to local people.

Bean said he and Ron Savage are working on planning a contractors’ day, but, “first we have to get through the planning board and permitting,” he said. He will meet with the planning board this week.

The combined non-profit is beside property owned by John and Tabaitha Steward. They have an office and are building a resource center for adults, part of Team Hailey Hugs. They purchased the mobile classroom for $500 from SAD 44 and will place it on a foundation beside their existing small building.

The food pantry/district exchange will have a right of way through the Stewards’ entry.
Bean said they purchased the building from the Yasko Family who made vitamins and health supplements there for 10 or 12 years. Before the Yasko’s  business there was a flower shop and other small businesses in that location.

They plan to do a capital campaign but are starting quietly with conversations. Bean said they will make it public when they have about 25% left to fundraise.

He said if anyone wants to support them please contact him at: ExecutiveDirector@bethelareafoodpantry.org, 207-890-4022 or visit the website at www.bethelareafoodpantry.org.

“We’re not just moving the food pantry in, we’re bringing in the district exchange which has been closed for the last four years. That will reunite the two halves of our non-profit,” said Bean. “It will be like when we started [together] at Ethel Bisbee 32 years ago.”