Delaware Food Bank cuts ribbon at new facility in Milford

On January 15, the Delaware Food Bank officially cut the ribbon on its new 70,000 square foot, $34 million facility in Milford.

The building’s opening marks the end of a three-year process for the food bank, which also has a facility in Newark. The new facility, located across from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milford, is nearly three times the size of the food bank’s old facility.

Among the new facilities: increased storage and cold storage space, a food pantry, a volunteer room for workers to pack and sort donations, classroom and meeting space, garden space to grow fresh food, and a cafe. This includes a functioning on-site cafe. Culinary training program.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Food Bank,” said Kathy Kanefsky, president and CEO of the food bank.This facility is more than just a building. It embodies our collective commitment to serving others with respect and dignity. This building represents hope for many people. This project has been years in the making, and there are many people who will join us to make this vision a reality. ”

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper also attended the ribbon cutting. “Today is a day to celebrate,” he said. “Today is a wonderful, wonderful day.”

Among the many donors to the project, Delaware’s Congressional delegation allocated $7 million to the project through the American Rescue Plan Act.

“There are many reasons why we want to make sure people have food,” Carper said. “We have a moral responsibility to do it. We have a spiritual responsibility to do it.”

At the opening of the new facility, Kanefsky announced the news that Perdue Farms delivered its first donation of more than 83,000 pounds of chicken, the equivalent of two truckloads.

“Think of all the lives we will change,” Kanefsky said. “We don’t just provide food. We provide hope for a better tomorrow. This building is a testament to that vision. It allows us to not only distribute food, but also provide job skills training. and financial guidance to help our neighbors achieve long-term financial security.”