As need grows Food Bank of Delaware expands

Food Bank of Delaware moves down the street to further support people in need.

The organization is relocating and almost doubling in size from its 42,500-square-foot warehouse at 14 Garfield Way in Newark to 80,000-square-foot facility on 222 Lake Drive in Pencader Corporate Center in Newark.

President and CEO of the Food Bank, Patricia Beebe, said program growth and availability of fresh foods have literally caused them to run out of room.

According to the Food Bank there are more than 100,000 Delaware residents in need of food and last year alone the Food Bank received over 7 million pounds of food.

The new and larger location will allow for the Food Bank to expand services including:

Increase capacity to feed more children and seniors through our hunger relief programs
Create infrastructure for farmers to donate surplus fresh produce to neighbors in need
Accept more nutritious, perishable foods from retailers thanks to additional refrigeration and warehouse space
Provide additional unemployed and underemployed citizens with training opportunities through workforce development programs that have the potential to lead to jobs that provide security and economic sustainability.

The Food Bank has been looking for a new location for the last two years and purchased the new building with monies from their endowment fund. The organization said it is launching a capital campaign aimed at generating contributions for the relocation project with an official campaign website coming soon.

Money from the sale of Garfield location, which the Food Bank owns, will contribute to the capital fund. The new building, property and construction costs for the project are estimated at $10.5 million, according to the Food Bank.

An official groundbreaking is expected in the fall as the new facility is modified for the organization. In the meantime, the Food Bank said operations will continue at the 14 Garfield Way location.