ATLANTA - Atlanta Country Market will get a new roof. The small-town grocer in downtown also will be able to repair or replace cooler and freezer compressors, condensers and exhaust fans, said customer Bill Thomas, a member of the board of directors of the Atlanta Betterment Fund.

"We now have money to pretty much do anything related to our list," Thomas said Friday. "It literally was answered prayer."

The idea to create the Atlanta Betterment Fund originated after community members learned their grocery store was struggling. The fund will provide grants to Atlanta's businesses and services with a need. The grocery store is the first project.

After a fundraising drive last month, organizers raised $12,145, Thomas said.

The original goal was to raise $25,000 to $30,000, but repairs will cost slightly less, primarily because three local contractors donated the cost of labor and a lumber company will provide materials for a new roof at cost, Thomas said.

Members will consider if the grocery store has any further needs and then continue to solicit donations to build the fund for the future, Thomas said.

The community continues to help Atlanta Country Market, 107 S.E. Vine St., attract new customers in other ways, too.

The grocery store has a new arrangement with a Lincoln dry cleaning company to be a drop-off and pick-up location for clothes that need cleaning, Thomas said.

In addition, the market always has offered free in-town delivery to customers, but it soon will provide weekly out-of-town deliveries to McLean, Waynesville, Lawndale and Armington at no cost, Thomas said. Customers have to meet a minimum $25 purchase order to take advantage of that service, though, he said.

Owner Liz Hunter always has considered Atlanta Country Market to be a grocery store that surrounding communities could call their own, too.

"They should be offered free delivery services also," Hunter said.

Maybe those conveniences will encourage people to place orders or shop when they get their dry cleaning, she said.

Complete details about the delivery service, such as when food would be delivered, still need to be worked out, Hunter said.

Inside, the grocery store is beginning its transformation.

Dozens of townsfolk helped paint store shelves during a recent work week, Thomas said. They were back at work Friday and will continue to spruce up the store next week, he said.

Hunter said she has been touched by the care the community has shown, and she sees progress being made.

"We've been able to get merchandise in," Hunter said. "The shelves are looking better. … It's not completely full yet, but our goal is there."

The next update meeting for the Atlanta Betterment Fund will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Atlanta-Eminence Memorial & Park Community Building, 104 S.W. Sixth St.