ORANGE — The Franklin County Community Meals Program closed on the former Mike’s Place property on Jan. 31 and plans to move the Orange Food Pantry into its new home in mid-May.

Valerie Hudson, the nonprofit’s executive director, said the food pantry will continue operating out of its East Main Street location until the transition can be made to 81 East River St.

“We’ve been in the market kind of ... quietly for a long time for a space in Orange and we were actively seeking a new space, just because we did have increased numbers in participation,” she said. “This is a larger space, where we’re able to kind of develop more programs and expand direct services.”

Franklin County Community Meals bought the property for $240,000. The food pantry’s new space will be 1,236 square feet compared to its existing 850-square-foot space. While the Orange Food Pantry is currently operating five hours per week on Thursdays, Hudson said the hope is to expand operations to have hours on Mondays and Wednesdays, too.

“This will also be our Orange meals site, as it has a commercial kitchen,” she added. “But I think our biggest contribution is really going to be the use of the space, as far as the land — not only community events but urban agriculture, stuff like that.”

Franklin County Community Meals Program board member Sarah Adam, whose husband, Fardeen Chowdhury, chairs the board of directors, said everyone involved with the program is thrilled with the new location and its accessibility, as stairs are not needed. The building is also across the street from Butterfield Park, where the Orange Community Band performs concerts in the summer.

Hudson said the Franklin County Community Meals Program aspires to offer a produce-only pantry from 3 to 6 p.m. on Mondays. There are also hopes to provide toddler necessities, such as baby food, formula and clothes, and those involved want to try offering lottery-based fuel assistance.

The Orange Food Pantry distributed more than 880,000 pounds of food to those in need in 2024, and its annual auction fundraiser to support its work is scheduled for the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 24.

More information about the Franklin County Community Meals Program is available at fccmp.org and on social media, @fccmp.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.