Bloom Energy and the Food Bank of Delaware marked the opening of the “Gardens at Bloom” at the Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center in Newark.
State Sen. Bryan Townsend, New Castle County Councilwoman Lisa Diller, Newark Mayor Polly Sierer, City Manager Carol Houck, along with Food Bank of Delaware CEO Patricia Beebe joined with Boom to celebrate the completion of the first community garden at a Delaware business in support of the Food Bank.
The 200-square-foot-plus garden was built by Bloom Energy employees and used scrap materials from the manufacturing facility. Bloom Energy volunteers will maintain the garden for year round production of produce.
The Food Bank of Delaware supports local programs in all three Delaware counties including free summer meals, low and no-cost food programs and emergency food. Approximately 17,500 different people receive food assistance through the Food Bank of Delaware’s network of hunger-relief partners in any given week, serving more than 240,000 people each year.
“As our team here in Newark continues to grow and become a greater part of the Newark community, we are proud to join in support with the Food Bank,” Bloom Energy’s Vice President for Operations, Barry Sharpe said. “With the open space we have on site, along with creating ways to recycle extra pallet material, partnering with the Food Bank seemed only natural.”
”We are thrilled to be partnering with Bloom Energy on this important community garden,” said Beebe. “Produce grown here will be distributed directly to Delawareans struggling to put meals on the table. We are hoping that more local businesses will follow Bloom Energy’s lead and grow a garden to benefit Delawareans.”
Bloom recently announced its staff has risen to 150. The company has also leased warehouse space in Newark. Bloom produces fuel cells.
