On May 25, The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri announced plans to name its new facility on 705 Business Loop 70 W The Food Bank Market. The new location is currently under renovation and will open in fall 2023. At that time, The Food Bank will relocate operations at Central Pantry to the new facility. Administrative and warehouse work at The Food Bank’s 2101 Vandiver Dr. location will continue in its existing location.
The Food Bank Market will provide more space and better accessibility to improve the neighbor experience. It will also host visiting services so neighbors can access other much-needed resources in a convenient location.
The Food Bank's President and CEO Lindsay Young Lopez notes The Food Bank Market will be a space to share food and other resources side by side. “Food is foundational, and food insecurity affects all aspects of life. That means food insecurity is often coupled with other challenges. The Food Bank Market will host visiting services so partners can share a host of resources alongside food distribution. With this strategy, we aim to better address the needs of the whole person for neighbors working toward food security.”
The Food Bank will feature spaces for local partners to share resources like housing or utilities assistance; legal counsel; SNAP support; education on Medicaid and health insurance; and more. In addition, Compass Health Network will provide preventive and primary care services from a 1,108 square foot tenant space.
Other highlights of the facility include areas that will support nutrition for neighbors. A demonstration kitchen will allow The Food Bank’s dietetics team to offer training that encourage healthy eating and meal preparation. Nearly 8,000 square feet of cold storage will increase The Food Bank’s ability to source and distribute healthy, nonperishable items. Neighbors across The Food Bank's entire 32-county service area will benefit from the added freezer and cooler space.
The Food Bank currently collaborates with more than 100 partners in Boone County. In total, The Food Bank works with more than 145 partner agencies and nearly 200 school partners to distribute food. Alongside partners, the organization serves around 100,000 Missourians each month. The Food Bank also runs mobile pantries and programs to bring food to rural communities, children, seniors, veterans and more.
Lopez emphasizes the new facility will improve hunger alleviation strategies beyond mid-Missouri. “The Food Bank shares food across our service area, but The Market will help us be a resource for ideas. Not many food banks own and operate their own food distribution center. Our expertise in food distribution puts us in a position to share best practices with our partners, too. The new location will let us better develop and refine those practices. Our goal is to grow an even more innovative hunger action model to share with partners and Feeding America collaborators. The Market will benefit neighbors in Boone County, yes. But it will also help us move the needle for neighbors across our service area and beyond.”
To help complete The Food Bank Market project, The Food Bank is seeking to raise $7 million. The cost will help cover the new facility, renovations, furniture, fixtures and programming support. The Food Bank has already raised more than 60% of its total goal.
To learn more about The Food Bank Market or to make a gift to the effort, visiting sharefoodbringhope.org.