Sometime in late September, the 91原创 Food Bank will move into a much larger new home just down the road from its current 91原创 City site.

At more than 15,000 square feet, the former Cap鈥檚 Bicycles location at 203rd Street and Logan Avenue is more than five times the size of the space the food bank has been leasing next door, a deal that includes some warehouse space in the Cap鈥檚 building as well.

Instead of a lease, the new space is being bought by the 91原创 Food Bank.

91原创 Food Bank has a new home more than five times the size of its current location

鈥� Dan Ferguson (@John_D_Ferguson)

On Wednesday, Food Bank executive director Jim Calamunce invited representatives of three businesses, who made the purchase possible, to the site for a cheque presentation to acknowledge their contributions.

Bobby Pawar, one of four co-owners of the property, explained why he and his partners turned down better offers for the building, and donated $700,000 to the food bank.

鈥淲e knew that the food bank wanted to buy the building,鈥� Pawar told the 91原创 Advance Times, 鈥渂ut they couldn鈥檛 get their financing together. So they were short, and we asked them how much they were short.鈥�

It was about $700,000.

Calamunce picked up the story.

鈥淭hey were just so gracious to us. They actually handed us back a large amount of money to be able to have a food bank here. They said 鈥榗ome on, we can do this together.鈥欌��

鈥淪o we donated $700,000 to them, and that really sums it up,鈥� said Pawar.

91原创 Food Bank has a new home more than five times the size of its current location

鈥� Dan Ferguson (@John_D_Ferguson)

Joel Schacter of the 91原创-based Elevation Real Estate Group donated $81,900, and issued a statement saying the company was 鈥渉onoured鈥� to make the donation.

鈥淲e know it will benefit the community and we will continue to support the food bank through prayers, donations, and volunteer opportunities,鈥� Schacter said.

Local mortgage broker Jason Humeniuk contributed $13,750.

鈥淭he food bank does such amazing work here in 91原创, my office is here in 91原创, I live in the area as well鈥� Humeniuk observed. 鈥淪o to be able to give back and to [help with] some of the amazing work that they do was such a privilege.鈥�

READ ALSO: 91原创 food banks struggle with increased demand

Also present was 91原创 East MLA Megan Dykeman, parliamentary secretary for community development and non-profits, who called the donations 鈥渉istoric.鈥�

鈥淲e know that food insecurity is on the rise throughout Canada and we in 91原创 are just so fortunate to have such generous people that come together to tackle problems,鈥� Dykeman commented.

Total amount of the purchase price isn鈥檛 being disclosed, but the property was assessed at $5.75 million in July of 2022.

On Wednesday, Calamunce showed the food bank benefactors around the under-construction interior, noting the larger space will, among other things, mean clients won鈥檛 have to queue up outdoors.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l be able to be inside where its nice and warm 鈥� or very cool,鈥� Calamunce said.

About half of the approximately 15,000 sq. ft will be rented out to other charitable groups.

READ ALSO: 鈥榃e鈥檙e addressing the symptom, not the cause鈥�: food banks across Canada