MONTICELLO, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- It used to take a trip to Caribou for Aroostook County food pantries to stay stocked. Now, a new food bank is making it an easier, cheaper job.

Catholic Charities opened a new food bank in Monticello on Monday, adding a location to better serve pantries in Southern Aroostook County.

Volunteers from the Orient food pantry said going to the new location will cut their gas milage and money in half.

"With the economy the way that it is, the price of gas and food going up every day, it's a big step up for a lot of people to be able to get food," said Dale Foley, director of the Orient pantry.

Facing increasing demand for food donations, organziers at the Monticello food bank are finding creative ways to pay for it.

Dixie Shaw, the Catholic Charities organizer behind the project, has been selling donated clothes and furniture at thrift stores, giving 100% of the proceeds back to the food bank.

"It's recycling, it's saving the planet, it's helping people in the county," she said.

"I think we're on to something."

NEWS CENTER