Tuesday, June 11, 2013

ANNOUNCING - Relocating from Portland to Biddeford

We are excited to announce that our plans to move the southern Maine distribution facility from Portland to Biddeford are now becoming reality.

Our Portland warehouse will close at 1pm on Thursday, June 27, and our new warehouse in Biddeford will open at 8am on Tuesday, July 2. On Monday, July 1, all GSFB facilities are closed for inventory. The new warehouse in Biddeford is located at 10 Arctic Circle, very close to both Rt. 1 and Exit 32 on I-95. View map.

After months of planning and negotiations, this move is now coming up very soon. We will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible for all of our southern Maine partners.

Our site in Biddeford will offer both online order pick-up and “shopping” for product. We are especially pleased to announce expanded hours for the new facility: Monday 11 am to 6 pm / Tuesday-Thursday 8 am to 3 pm / Friday 8 am to 12 pm.

We will be partnering with Wayside Food Programs in Portland as a drop site for online orders of dry product only. Agencies will have the option to pick up at Wayside’s Walton Street warehouse starting Monday, July 8.
  1. Orders containing any frozen or refrigerated product must be picked up by the agency in either Biddeford, Auburn, or Brewer;
  2. Orders may be picked up at Wayside Food Programs on Mondays and Tuesdays between 8 am and 4 pm or on Fridays between 8 am and 12 pm;
  3. Orders will be stored at Wayside for no more than 7 days; if an order is not picked up within 7 days, it will be cancelled and the product returned to the Auburn distribution center;
  4. As in other GSFB warehouses, orders must be picked up by shoppers authorized by the agency. Please contact Agency Services at GSFB if you wish to update your authorized shoppers list. Wayside staff will not be able to make changes to your authorized shoppers list. 

FAQ


What will be available at the Biddeford warehouse?

The new Biddeford warehouse will be fully stocked with both purchased and donated product. Refrigerated and frozen foods will be available, in addition to nonperishables. We will utilize refrigerated trailers for the first couple weeks until the cooler/freezer unit is moved from Portland and installed. Please bear with us during this installation process and while we assemble racking; it shouldn’t take more than 2-3 weeks to settle in to our new space.


How do I order for pick-up at Wayside?

As happens now, when you place your online order, you will indicate that this is a “pickup” order, select the day and time of pickup (ensuring that that date aligns with Wayside’s pick up schedule above), make your order, and in the area where you enter your name and other contact information, in the comment box, please put “picking up at Wayside,” “picking up in Biddeford,” or “picking up in Auburn” to indicate your preferred pick-up location.


 I’m a partner agency of GSFB but not of Wayside. Can I still go to their warehouse?

Yes. Wayside will receive and hold online orders for GSFB partner agencies even if those agencies are not members of Wayside Food Program.


 Can I shop at Wayside for other GSFB items besides what I order online?

No. There will not be a shopping option at Wayside. Only online orders of dry product can be received and distributed by Wayside.


 How do I get my order at Wayside?

Come to the Wayside warehouse site at 135 Walton Street in Portland (access the parking lot via Canco Road) on Mondays or Tuesdays between 8 am and 4 pm or Fridays between 8 am and noon and see the staff there. You’ll sign a GSFB invoice, just as you would at any GSFB warehouse. PLEASE NOTE – you will not be able to pay by check at Wayside; money must be sent to GSFB directly.

Please let us know if you need more information or assistance. Your Agency Services team is happy to answer questions or address concerns: Kathy Helming, Agency Services Field Rep (khelming@gsfb.org / 232-2845); Heidi Lupardo, Agency Services Specialist (hlupardo@gsfb.org / 782-3554, ext. 1126); Jeremy Hammond, Manager of Agency Services (jhammond@gsfb.org / 782-3554, ext. 1144).
GSFB Network is a blog for partner agencies of Good Shepherd Food Bank focused on feeding Maine's hungry.