LEXINGTON, Ky. — God’s Pantry Food Bank in Lexington is expanding its operations, improving equipment and food distribution.
God’s Pantry Food Bank’s food distribution system has been in the making for over 30 years. It has a new 127,000 square foot central warehouse to call home. It’s part of a $40 million campaign to reshape and grow their food distribution effort.
The food bank’s President and CEO Michael Halligan said this is their opportunity to produce over 50 million meals annually across their 50 counties and over 500 food pantries.
Halligan said they were hitting the point where it was difficult to distribute food efficiently, and quickly without this building or turning down food.
The new warehouse includes more refrigeration, 12 aisles of shelves and administration offices. Board members, staff and partners joined leaders to mark its official opening.
Leaders also shared a reminder that community food sources like the bank could be at risk of federal funding cuts.
“A third of that 50 million pounds of food comes through the United States Department of Agriculture,” said former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. “And you know what’s being talked about right now, cutting some of those programs.”
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ending 500 million in emergency Food Assistance Program funds.
“There are important things that we need to do for the food banks in this state. It is the case that USDA has discretion over funds, some of which have been pulled back from food banks as the new administration considers how it intends to invest those funds,” said Vince Hall, Feeding America’s chief governmental relations officer.
Halligan said even though God’s Pantry relies on federal sources, they hope the new facility allows them to keep preventing hungry families and open doors to more partnerships, space and food.
