Regional Food Bank Opens New 50,000-Square-Foot Facility

The Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley opened a new 50,000-square-foot food distribution center in the town of Montgomery, Orange County, to combat hunger in the region, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. The facility will boost the organization’s capacity to store and distribute food, meeting the growing demand for emergency food assistance across six counties in the Hudson Valley.

The new distribution center will safely store perishable food and enhance sorting/distribution capabilities to support over 400 local food pantries, shelters, and other emergency food providers. “No New Yorker should ever go hungry — and we’re investing in facilities and organizations that provide critical resources for anyone facing that devastating reality,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “This brand-new facility will better ensure families and communities in the Hudson Valley have reliable access to fresh and nutritious food, and that we can meet the region’s food security needs well into the future.”

The Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley serves more than 179,000 people in the region facing food insecurity. The region’s food security infrastructure is undergoing a generational investment via the new facility.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal provided a $10.7 million Community Development Block Grant CARES award to fund the distribution center that combats pandemic-related food insecurity and health challenges.

“The opening of this new state-of-the-art warehouse is a testament to the State’s commitment to improving food security for all New Yorkers,” said New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas. “Our investment of almost $11 million will allow the Food Bank to serve the community with greater efficiency, improve access to healthy, nutritious meals throughout the Hudson Valley, and assist nearly 180,000 individuals facing food insecurity.”

Empire State Development provided $3.7 million in capital funding, as recommended by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. Additional support includes a $1.9 million contribution from the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and $9 million in private donations.

“Today is a major milestone for the Regional Food Bank Hudson Valley and the communities we serve,” Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley CEO Tom Nardacci said in a statement. “Sadly, food insecurity continues to be a serious threat, and the need has not waned since the pandemic. This year the Food Bank will distribute 55 million pounds of food, our second highest year ever behind 2020.”

Nardacci said the new distribution center will enable the food bank to source more local food and partner with Hudson Valley farmers, producers, and retailers.

Image: Opening Ceremony for the new Regional Food Bank facility Montgomery, NY