Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) today announced the public phase of its capital campaign for warehouse expansion and improvements. The campaign, More than Food, hopes to raise $3.6 million to support the expansion and renovation of their current facility. To date, EIF has raised $3.3 million, more than 90% of its goal. 

The plan for expansion includes:

·        The addition of warehouse space to allow for improvements in the storage and delivery system and increase the amount of product made available to partner agencies and families

·        Expansion and relocation of refrigeration units to accommodate more fresh and frozen product

·        The addition of a designated volunteer area that will allow utilization of more volunteers to ensure the warehouse is sufficiently supported and increase the food available to partner agencies

·        Adding a second truck docking station to enable more efficient intake and distribution of product

 

“Even before the pandemic, our facility had reached its limit in both size and suitability. The needs of our community demand we grow, and our Board of Directors and staff have been working on a vision to carry us into the future,” said Kelly Daly, President & CEO of Eastern Illinois Foodbank. “The vision is to be able to meet the needs of every neighbor with dignity and respect.”

 

At any given time, there are more than 100,000 people in eastern Illinois facing hunger. The expansion and renovations will enable EIF to extend the number of people they serve and increase the amount of fresh, nutritious food that is distributed throughout their 18-county service area. 

 

The Foodbank accepts thousands of pounds of food each month from distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. As the primary resource of food for local pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens, EIF has been a vital resource for those living with food insecurity in eastern Illinois for the past three decades.

 

Eastern Illinois Foodbank officially began renovations to their facility in April 2021 when they upgraded their truck docking system to add an additional loading area. Construction on the warehouse expansion is currently planned for summer 2022.

 

Anyone interested in donating to the campaign, or a complete informational packet about the project, can visit www.eifoodbank.org.

 

Videos about the vision and impact of the campaign can be found here:

It’s About More Than Food – April’s Story

Fight Hunger and Transform Our Community