Alameda County Community Food Bank

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Contact: Judyth Collin
(510) 636-4902

Alameda County Community Food Bank Launches
“Mission: Nutrition” Capital Campaign
—Food Bank Halfway to $5 Million Goal—

22 February 2007 -- (Oakland, CA) The Alameda County Community Food Bank, halfway to its $5 million goal, will kick-off the public phase of its capital campaign with an invitation-only event on Thursday, March 1 from 6 – 8 pm. The evening's program includes a reception and brief program with a performance by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.

Dubbed "Mission: Nutrition, Nourishing Our Neighborhoods," the initial quiet phase of the campaign has brought in just over $2.5 million. Major contributors include the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation, Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente, the Y & H Soda Foundation, Pleasanton-based Safeway, Inc., the McKesson Foundation, and the Clorox Company of Oakland.

"It was important for the Board to invest in a permanent home for the Food Bank," said Beth Sawi, president of the Board and co-chair of the capital campaign. "Unfortunately, hunger is a persistent and year-round problem and each time the Food Bank moved from leased space to leased space, operations were disrupted with a resulting gap in services."

The 118,000 square-foot warehouse, formerly a book storage warehouse and sporting goods manufacturing plant, features a 5,500 square-foot cooler and freezer system, expanded space for volunteers to help with sorting of food, space for a demonstration kitchen and easy access to public transportation.

"We have served Alameda County for 22 years and we are delighted to be in a permanent home at last," said Suzan Bateson, executive director of the Food Bank. "The increased space has let us quadruple the amount of apples, salad greens and other fresh produce we provide to the hungry people in our community."

A $4.5 million buy-out on the remainder of its lease on the grounds of the former Oakland Army Base allowed the Food Bank to put a down payment on its new quarters located at 7900 Edgewater Drive in Oakland. Renovations were made to the loading docks, interior warehouse area and exterior driveway, and the move to its new location was made in June, 2005. The total cost of the project was $9.5 million.

The Food Bank staff is available to conduct tours of the new facility to any member of the public who calls and schedules a time. Click here for more information.