New Hope Ministries serves people in need in Dillsburg, Dover and Mechanicsburg. Now it adds Hanover to the list.

On Wednesday, operations of the Hanover Food Pantry and Family Center at 529 Carlisle St. are being transferred to New Hope, which is based in Dillsburg.

The American Red Cross Hanover Chapter had been running the center and asked New Hope to take over.

"New Hope's expertise and commitment will help these essential programs in Hanover make an even greater impact and enable the Hanover Red Cross to concentrate on its core services," said Matt Leininger, American Red Cross Hanover Chapter executive director.

New Hope has hired a manager and assistant manager to work full-time at the center, which serves people who face hunger, homelessness and financial crisis.

The center's food pantry volunteers will remain, while there are plans to have a total of 75 center volunteers, said Eric Saunders, New Hope's executive director.

The center's new hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, he said.

"People who are already used to coming out for food or help will be able to do so without interrupted service," Saunders said.

Discussions for transferring operations began about 18 months ago, Saunders said.

New Hope has been providing food pantry and emergency assistance programs to people in need for more than 30 years, Saunders said. New Hope also runs children and youth activities, as well as programs that teach life skills and self-sufficiency.

--Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.