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Food bank asks to use Century Vallen building

The food bank wants to begin delivering its services from the city-owned Century Vallen building.
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Food bank volunteers sort out Christmas hampers in the basement of the legion. Community Connections is hoping to move the food bank into the Century Vallen building

The food bank wants to begin delivering its services from the city-owned Century Vallen building.

A request from Community Connection to use the building to run the food bank went before city council on Tuesday.

The food bank is currently run out of the basement of the Legion but a report from staff indicates that this is not an ideal location because of the poor accessibility caused by the steep stairs.

Community Connections has asked to use the Century Vallen building to run the food bank and other services connected to Revelstoke's new Food Security Strategy.

The Century Vallen building is located on Fourth Street, next to the fire hall.

The city’s public works department currently uses the building for storage. The Revelstoke Theatre Company has also asked to use the facility as a place to rehearse, store equipment and build sets; their request was denied by the previous council.

According to the staff report, the building would require "significant work" before it could be rented out, though Community Connections has said they would look for funding to carry out the work.

The building is currently an expense to the city, but could become a revenue generator if leased out, the report states.

At it's meeting on Feb. 10, council endorsed a recommendation from the city's social development committee, "that city council explore the use of the Century Vallen building as a facility for the development of a community food security resource centre."

"I am glad to see this coming forward because I've seen it being talked about for a while now," said councillor Linda Nixon.

Council asked staff to open discussions with Community Connections to find out more about what they have planned.

They also asked staff to look at storage needs in case another use is found for the building.

"I'd like to see what staff could come up with," said coun. Aaron Orlando. "I'd like to see some numbers and some option for them."