Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New 100,000-square-foot Distribution Center!

On May 30, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida broke ground for a new $15 million, 100,000-square-foot distribution center, which is a milestone in the “Building Solutions to Hunger” capital campaign. More than 200 supporters – including business and community leaders, volunteers and representatives from the food bank’s partner agencies – came together to take part in the site dedication.

The Morgan & Morgan, P.A. Hunger Relief Center at Second Harvest Food Bank — to be built near the intersection of Mercy Drive and Old Winter Garden Road in Orlando — will provide hunger relief for 55,000 Central Floridians per week, including seniors, children, families and the underemployed. When the current warehouse opened in 1996, Second Harvest provided about 6 million pounds of food to the community. Last year, that figure topped nearly 33 million pounds.

Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, said “Since 2006, food panties, soup kitchens and shelters have seen a 100 to 400 percent increase in people in need. Meanwhile at the food bank, we’ve been forced to turn away more than 4 million pounds of donated food each year due to a lack of adequate space. And the worst part is – most of the rejected donations were nutritious, high-quality fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. It’s heartbreaking.”

New facility features will include: Increased warehouse space that will help provide an average of 1 million more meals for children each year,  113% more dry storage capacity, doubling our ability to handle dry goods, A 440% increase in refrigerated capacity to help us distribute more nutritious food,  A 330% increase in freezer capacity, accommodating 19 truckloads of food, Nine in-bound dock doors, including three cool dock doors. A 450% increase in access that enhances food safety and allows for more donated product,  A dedicated volunteer area for groups of 100+ to sort food for families in need and school food packs for kids,  A large temperature controlled shopping area for our agency representatives.

Now that the new facility land purchase is complete and construction is starting, most are hoping that the doors will open to the community in early 2013. Second Harvest will be relying heavily on the generosity of the community to invest the remaining 20 percent of the “Building Solutions to Hunger” capital campaign’s goal of $3 million in order accomplish its ambitious goals.

Join the growing list of Donors!

To learn more about the “Building Solutions to Hunger” capital campaign visit www.showmercynow.org or call407-295-5009, ext. 21.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
Second Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America — the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFB secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 500 agencies that feed the hungry throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed nearly 33 million pounds of grocery products — the equivalent of more than 22 million meals — to partner agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and other vital food assistance programs. On average, more than 55,000 different people receive assistance from SHFB partners each week. To learn more about SHFB, visitwww.FeedHopeNow.org