It's a police station that doubles as a food pantry, and it's what Colona police and food pantry volunteers have been dealing with for over 15 years.
Right now the police station and food pantry are all in one building on First Street.
"We're just out of room inside the building and outside for parking," Chief Suzanne Bogart says.
Chief Bogart has been with the Colona Police Department for almost 19 years, and the food pantry has been sharing space with the station for as long as anyone can remember.
"That's a primary issue with the congestion outside is officers even to be able to get their squad cars out of the back to start their duty," she says.
The chief says on days when the pantry is open, the whole lot can be filled car to car. The pantry also shares bathrooms with the department, but since the only door connecting the two runs through the police interview room, volunteers need to go around the building outside, even in the winter.
"Over the years it's just become more and more congested, they have become busier, and we have become busier," Chief Bogart says.
Space is an issue too. The chief says their evidence room is packed and with over 100 open cases, they'll need more room, which is where a new building comes in.
The city purchased an old church at 617 8th street for $44,000 and is hoping to move the food pantry there.
"The food pantry would go in the back part here and the front part could be a multi-use for the community," Third Ward Alderman Mike King says.
But not everyone is okay with making the change.
"I don't want to move," Pantry Director Hazel Sletten says, "I'm happy here, it's close to where I live, we've never been broken into, it's just solid."
Sletten says they always have enough room to serve the 100 plus families that come to their door each month.
"This food that you see in here now, at the end of tomorrow it won't be here," she says of the room full of donations.
City leaders say they've spoken to other volunteers who say they need more space and can make the pantry move if they have to since the city owns the space.
Right now the city is planning to spend another $10,000 remodeling the new building and hope to start construction by this winter.
"We always have to look out for the future of the community and we have to do what's in their best interest," King says.
Remodeling the new building all depends on if the city gets a mold problem out. Public Works crews are trying to spray chlorine on the mold there hoping to get rid of it, but if it doesn't work they'll have to spend several thousand dollars on a professional company to get it out.
The Colona Food Pantry is always looking for donations. Those looking to help can send food donations and any supplies to:
PO Box 265
Colona 61241
