KINGSTON — From a 760 square foot trailer behind Bayside Community Church to an almost 2,300 square foot building in an industrial park just outside of Kingston, the ShareNet Food Bank is moving up in the world mid-April.

It’ll also be improving how it helps people in need, providing not only a food bank, but a thrift store and — a bit further down the road — classes aimed at helping residents get back on their feet.

“We’re waiting on permits right now,” said ShareNet Executive Director Lisa Defayette. “I’m looking forward to it. We’re chomping on the bit, we’ve got a lot of people who want to volunteer, we’ve got donations, equipment to move in. We are ready to go.”

In the past, Kingston’s ShareNet was a food bank like any other, depending on food drives and donations to provide for people in need. Once the thrift shop opens, it will help fund the food bank as well as other activities which Defayette hopes will educate the residents being assisted. It will still count on donations, she said, but during leaner times it will be able to generate revenue to maintain the food bank.

“It’ll be much easier, and there will be more room,” said ShareNet volunteer Ralph Flewelling, who has been working at the food bank for about two years.

John L. Scott real estate agent Jan Zufelt, who serves on the ShareNet board of directors, is pitching in as well. She helped Defayette find a suitable building for the thrift shop, and then took her commission from the lease and donated it back to ShareNet — all $3,000 of it.

“My husband and I wanted to make sure that people had a better opportunity for education,” she said. “Future plans for the ShareNet building include a resource center. This is the seed money for that.”

ShareNet already possesses everything needed to run and stock a thrift store — and then some. Defayette said the organization recently ran out of room for its inventory, so the extra space will be welcome once the store opens. In addition to classes, she said ShareNet is also reviewing programs that will provide clothing vouchers for residents who have suffered losses due to fires, floods, or other circumstances, and programs that will help residents get back into the work force.

“This is a great opportunity for us to give back to the community,” Zufelt said.