Regional Food Bank Launches Major Distribution Center in Montgomery
The Regional Food Bank celebrated the inauguration of its newly built 50,000-square-foot distribution center in Montgomery, New York, on December 4, aimed at enhancing service in the Hudson Valley area.
The facility features expanded cold storage and sorting areas, allowing the food bank to extend its reach to nearly 180,000 individuals across the six-county region.
At the grand opening ceremony, Tom Nardacci, CEO of Regional Food Bank, highlighted the increasing demand for food bank services, which has been on the rise after a slight decrease during the pandemic.
In the previous year, the food bank provided nearly 48 million pounds of meals through more than 1,000 partner food pantries spanning 23 counties in New York.
“Every bag of apples, every carton of eggs, every backpack of food distributed to schools, and every fresh meal prepared with food sourced from this facility serves someone in need.”
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In the food bank’s latest annual report, Nardacci attributed the increased demand to post-pandemic challenges, including rising living costs, underemployment, and inflation.
The funding for the new facility includes a specialized $10.7 million community development block grant aimed at addressing pandemic-related challenges from the state agency of Homes and Community Renewal, $9 million in private donations, a $3.7 million capital grant recommended by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, and $1.9 million from the food bank itself.
The newly established 50,000-square-foot facility of Regional Food Bank in Montgomery, N.Y., on Dec. 4, 2024.Cara Ding/The Epoch Times
“This state-of-the-art facility will ensure that families and communities in the Hudson Valley have dependable access to fresh, nutritious food,” remarked Gov. Kathy Hochul in a statement.
“No family should have to choose between paying their rent or putting food on the table; no senior should face the dilemma of affording medication versus meals—this project embodies that principle,” said RuthAnne Visnauskas, state Housing and Community Renewal commissioner, at the grand opening ceremony.
Empire State Development Commissioner Hope Knight added, “The new Hudson Valley distribution center illustrates our ongoing commitment to strategic community development investments that promote job creation and stimulate regional economic growth.”
Most of the construction work was performed by local labor within the Hudson Valley region.
Cooked sticky white rice prepared in the new 50,000-square-foot facility of Regional Food Bank in Montgomery, N.Y., on Dec. 4, 2024.Cara Ding/The Epoch Times
During the grand opening ceremony, Nardacci expressed gratitude to supportive state representatives, local officials from Montgomery, and both current and former food bank board members and CEOs.
He specifically acknowledged his immediate predecessor, Molly Nicol, who was instrumental in bringing the new facility to fruition, and longtime former food bank CEO Mark Quandt, who led the organization for 38 years through innovative initiatives and collaborations.
Students represent a significant beneficiary group of the food bank’s services. Sandra Gerry, founding chair of Sullivan 180—which collaborates with the food bank in school-based pantries and backpack programs—emphasized that the initiative is not just about feeding but also about nourishing the future generation.
“We aim to educate and empower our children to make healthier choices,” Gerry remarked at the grand opening ceremony, “You can either invest in a farmer now or in a pharmacy later.”
