Food Bank celebrates expansion

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

HATFIELD The official opening of the newly expanded and renovated headquarters of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc. was celebrated with songs, a poetry reading and the announcement that the building will be paid for if every pledge for a donation is honored.

Congressman John Olver told the audience at the Thursday dedication that normally at such events he would ask for a final push to reach a fundraising goal. This day, he said Food Bank officials would be happy to accept any donations, regardless.

The $3.9 million expansion was funded by private donations from individuals, businesses and foundations as well as a $481,000 federal appropriation sponsored by Olver.

The facility supplies food to a wide-range of food security programs throughout the four western counties. In 2005, it distributed 5.7 million pounds of food about 4.5 million meals to more than 400 partner programs. Fifty percent of the food went to Hampden County, 20 percent to Hampshire County, 18 percent to Franklin County and 12 percent to Berkshire County.

According to "Hunger in America 2006," a study in which The Food Bank participated, 64 percent of the people who receive food from the Food Bank live below the official federal poverty threshold and only 7 percent receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families what is commonly know as "welfare."

The former facility had been built to accommodate two to three million pounds of food. Now it can handle eight to nine million pounds. There is more storage space for fresh and frozen food and a larger dock area for loading and unloading.

The facility is a "green" building with high energy and water efficiency as well as ozone friendly refrigerators and freezers.

Later this fall, a 30-watt photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof of the building that will generate about 12 percent of The Food Bank's electrical needs, saving the organization about $7,000 annual. The system was financed through a $268,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

Andrew Morehouse, executive director of The Food Bank for the past 10 months, acknowledged the contributions of many involved in the planning of the new building, including his predecessor David Sharken.

Morehouse said the organization has "the responsibility to keep hope alive."

He pledged to "keep the issues of food insecurity in front of the minds of western Massachusetts."