To date, Freeport Community Services has raised $2.7 million of the $3.5 million needed for the retrofit.
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Freeport Community Services is raising $3.5 million to reconfigure its home base on Depot Street.
The nonprofit houses a thrift shop, food pantry and community space that's used for yoga classes and events. It occupies three former E.R. Mallett historic homes linked together by newer connecting passageways — all of which are on Depot Street, not far from downtown Freeport.
The various missions have created a surprising catacomb of storage areas and work spaces, maximizing the existing space, with basements devoted to storage for the thrift shop and dry areas for food storage. But the nonprofit is at capacity.
Realigning spaces
On a recent tour, Sarah Lundin, the executive director, said the reorganization would align the various storage areas and workspaces with the designated front-of-house offerings.
For instance, the space means clothing designated for the thrift shop is received in one area, sorted in another and then taken to the shop, which is on the main level. The thrift shop is a key part of the nonprofit's operations, contributing $600,000 in annual revenue, or about half the nonprofit's revenue.
To date, the nonprofit has raised roughly $2.7 million of the $3.5 million needed for the retrofit, Lundin said.
With money still to be raised, there's no set start date
But the nonprofit has hired Zachau Construction, of Freeport, to be the contractor. Simons Architects, of Portland, will handle design.
About the nonprofit
Freeport Community Services serves residents of Freeport and Pownal. In addition to the food pantry and thrift shop, it offers programming or resources for youth development.
Development, heating assistance, emergency assistance, seasonal assistance, transportation, services for older adults and loans of medical supplies like wheelchairs.
