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North Pownal outreach group asks Pownal for specific support for community pantry, historic building work
Summary
A new nonprofit proposing to operate a food pantry and preserve two historic buildings at 851 Lawrence Road requested specific town support; organizers cited a $21,000 commercial‑kitchen upgrade already completed, an estimated $18,000–$20,000 annual operating budget, and a possible $20,000 ADA step reconstruction for the schoolhouse.
At the Dec. 8 Select Board meeting, Pat Hodgdon outlined plans for a new nonprofit to operate a food pantry and community space at the former United Methodist Church at 851 Lawrence Road in North Pownal. Hodgdon said the organization has completed a commercial-kitchen upgrade costing about $21,000 to bring that space up to code and has paid for a historic buildings condition assessment to support preservation grant applications.
Hodgdon said the group’s annual operating budget is roughly $18,000–$20,000 to cover utilities, insurance and monitoring, and that rebuilding the schoolhouse steps to ADA standards could cost an estimated $20,000. When asked whether donations to the project would be tax-deductible, Hodgdon said the recipient organization is a 501(c)(3); the town itself does not receive a tax deduction for funds it provides.
Chair Jon Morris and the board said they would consider requests but asked organizers to bring a concrete proposal if they seek an item on the town meeting warrant, because warrant language must specify purpose and amounts. The board did not take a vote on financial support during the meeting.
