Check out our new refrigeration unit being built at the back of our Community Engagement Center, adding capacity along with our original 5,000 square feet unit. Our huge inventory of fresh produce is so happy to have more room!
Oh the things that excite a Food Banker.
Taller bays at ground level to store taller pallets? You may not find them exciting, but don’t tell that to 6-foot, 3-inch Inventory Specialist Richard “Big Rich” Pittman. “Even I fit under them,” he says excitedly — noting that, importantly, it helps him pick orders for partner agencies much quicker.
From changes small to 4,500-square-foot-cooler large, our warehouse is undergoing dozens of Big Rich-sized changes to make sure we’re able to meet the long-term need caused by this pandemic.
Or to put it another way: it’s the largest renovation project we’ve ever done.
These are the demands that come along with increasing food distribution 50%+ overnight.
Steve Parker, ACCFB’s Warehouse Manager, has seen a lot in his 12 years at the Food Bank. The new cooler though, he says, “will be a game changer.” Parker, as he’s affectionately called within our walls, notes how all the extra eggs and farm-fresh produce we’ll store help better meet community need.
Needless to say, this food means little without dedicated partners on the ground providing it to the community, which is why ACCFB’s Engagement & Compliance Manager, Annie Loe, is doubly excited. “I can’t wait for the Community Market changes,” said Annie. “We’ve talked for years about how we can improve the ‘shopping’ experience for our partners and now it’s happening. Soon they’ll have their own walk-in freezer!”
Our community has a long road to recovery — and ACCFB likely has an even longer road as we expect the residual effects of the pandemic to last for up to a decade. Together, with your support, we’re building a warehouse — and, well, a Food Bank — of the future. One that meets the needs of our community today and gets us ready to eliminate hunger tomorrow.
