The Staples Area Food Shelf will have an open house Thursday, Feb. 25, from 2-5 p.m. at their new quarters at 402 Wisconsin Ave. SE, Staples. Please use the side entrance.

Tours will be given of the remodeled space in the building owned by the Staples Host Lions and food shelf board members will be on hand to explain policies and needs.

“We have so much more room,” said Doreen Scott, board member. “We have space to display what’s available. It’s easier to help people.”

The new space is well organized and the new location makes it easier for the food shelf volunteers to unload supplies and stock shelves.

The open house will also be the kick off event for their annual March Food Drive.

The need for a new location was spurred by the move of the Staples city offices and public library to a new building. The Staples Government Center which formerly housed those entities along with the food shelf was not going to remain open.

The food shelf board is timing their open house with the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new Staples City Hall and Staples Public Library building at 122 6th St. NE. The ribbon cutting is at 2 p.m. with tours of both the library and city hall following.

The days and times of operation for the food shelf have remained the same. It is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m. and the last Thursday of the month from 6-8 p.m.