OLDS — Nov. 30 is moving day for the Community Lending Shelf and Coats For Everyone.
On that day, the two services will be moving into the still municipally-owned former Olds fire hall, located at 4829 50th St. They’re both currently located in the basement of the Olds United Church.
The space in the old fire hall has been facilitated by the Town of Olds.
The Community Lending Shelf accepts donations of gently used clothing. Coats For Everyone provides free warm winter clothing for anyone who needs that.
Generally, both organizations will be located upstairs, although some provision may be made for at least one of the two to locate some items downstairs for those with mobility issues. Or, some items might be sent to those people.
The Mountain View Food Bank, the other group slated to move into the building, is expecting do so this spring, food bank society president Tayva Graham said during an earlier interview. It is expected to occupy most of the bottom floor.
Lucinda Watkins, a director with Community Lending Shelf and Coats For Everyone says in order to facilitate their move, both organizations will be closed from Nov 26 - Dec 2.
She said they need a big whack of volunteers to help make the move a reality.
Volunteers are needed for a cleaning bee Nov. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. and during moving day Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the east doors of the Olds United Church. A pizza lunch will be offered on Nov. 30.
Watkins estimates they’ll need about 10 people to help out.
“We have four or five people that have stepped forward, so I think we’ll have some muscle,” she said during an interview with the Albertan. “We’ve got a great big truck that somebody’s donated already to move the stuff.”
If all goes well, Watkins anticipates both organizations will reopen in their new location on or about Dec. 2.
The old fire hall became superfluous when the fire department moved to a new hall on 65th Street in 2013.
Watkins said the new location for the Community Lending Shelf and Coats For Everyone will be perhaps double the size of their current location in the Olds United Church basement.
During an interview earlier this fall, Watkins was rather frustrated with the anticipated move to their new quarters, saying at that time, she had heard “nothing” from the Town of Olds on the matter.
She’s now much happier.
Watkins said the Town of Olds has done “a little bit of work on the roof” and it’s been determined that there’s no structural damage that needs to be repaired.
“It seems like some stuff has come together and it’s happening, so that’s good,” Watkins said.
Although there’s no structural damage that needs repairing, Watkins said some “minor renovations” will have to be done.
“We have a few minor things to fix; you know, plumbing in the bathrooms and that sort of thing, but nothing major,” she said.
Watkins said Community Lending Shelf and Coats For Everyone volunteers will try to do most of the renovations themselves, but admitted they may need a plumber to fix the bathroom.
She’s pleased that everything has come together to make the move possible.
“I had some doubts along the way, but I think it’s really coming together. It’s going to facilitate some amazing growth for the lending shelf,” Watkins said.
“Between the town and my board there’s always negotiations happening and discussion, but absolutely, I think the town’s been very generous with this to be able to get us in there.”
In an email, Brent Williams, the town's chief administrative officer, said progress on filling the former fire hall with the new tenants is "moving along well."
"The lease agreements have been sent to the groups, but nothing has been signed yet," he wrote.
At the time he wrote his email, Williams was not sure when the food bank will be moving into the premises but hoped to learn that after an upcoming food bank board meeting.
Williams was asked whether, once everyone is moved in, the building will have a new name or continue to be referred to as the old fire hall.
"I hadn’t thought about it. But 'old fire hall' should probably be retired," he wrote.
