The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas celebrated an expansion project Friday afternoon, which will allow the organization to move into an approximately 20,000-square-foot facility in Mountain Home.Located in the former Fred’s building in the Georgetown Square, the facility is the culmination of a multi-year project allowing the Food Bank to improve its services to clients. Currently, the headquarters is in Norfork in a building only a third of the size of the future home.
Food Bank CEO Jeff Quick says the new facility will be a big change for the organization, and board members and supporters were excited for the groundbreaking. Crownover & Company of Mountain Home is overseeing the project, which will add 3,000 square feet to the current 16,500 in the former box store.
The additional square footage will be used for a cold storage facility for frozen and refrigerated foods, something Quick says has been desperately needed.
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Another addition will be a 2,000-foot training room for agencies served by the Food Bank, as well as life skills and job training for individuals and families. A kitchen is being constructed to allow hands-on training and cooking classes, according to Quick.
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The new facility will cost $2 million and is expected to be completed in September. Quick says the benefits of the facility will be worth every penny, and the group has already raised more than $600,000 for the project.
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While the fundraising will be beneficial, the relocation to Mountain Home will allow the Food Bank to operate more efficiently.
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Quick points out the project, which has been in the works for at least a decade, would only be possible because of the support the organization receives from the Twin Lakes Area.
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Anyone looking to make a charitable contribution to the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas can call 870-499-7565 or go online to foodbanknca.org.
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