MARION — The town and Council on Aging will run a pilot of a new food pantry program starting in 2022.

The program will run differently than the food pantry that the town set up at the beginning of the pandemic, and require much less work from town employees. Marion residents will be able to stop by the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center once a week and browse a selection of dry goods and paper goods set up in a conference room, almost like a miniature grocery store (with some quantity restrictions).

The pilot program would partner with the Greater Boston Food Bank and be funded through pledges from donors, so that it would not impact the town’s budget.

The food pantry pilot will be held three days a week, once in the morning, once on a weekend and once in the evening to accommodate different schedules. The morning session will be run by Council on Aging staff members, but the evening and weekend sessions will rely on volunteers.

Town Administrator Jay McGrail said at a Dec.7 Select Board meeting that many people had expressed interest in volunteering with the town’s highly successful food drive that was held at the beginning of the pandemic, but allowing them to volunteer safely was difficult.

There are currently 20 to 30 families that receive food assistance from Sippican School, and over 300 residents in town that get food stamps.

The Marion Select Board will hear an update on how the program is going after it is operational for 60 days.

“I appreciate everyone stepping up to do this,” Select Board member John Waterman said, after hearing about the program.