The Food Bank of Delaware is planning an expansion of its Milford Branch. It comes a few years after the opening of an expanding headquarters, training and distribution center in Glasgow, south of Newark.
Last month, it was announced that the Swank Family Foundation has donated $356,000 to support the expansion of the Food Bank of Delaware’s Milford branch.
The Milford City Council has voted in favor of a conditional use and preliminary site plan approval that would enable the organization to purchase 11.5 acres of property in the Independence Commons Business Park off Delaware Veterans Boulevard.
Initial plans call for the construction of a 3,000-square-foot building to house the Food Bank of Delaware’s Healthy Pantry Center and up to a 60,000-square-foot warehouse/workforce training space in phases.
The new property is less than a mile away from the Food Bank’s current 16,000-square-foot facility on Mattlind Way.
“While we have seen the need for food assistance rise as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, demands for food in Kent and Sussex Counties were growing even prior to the pandemic,” said Food Bank of Delaware CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “Additional warehouse and cold storage capacity is needed so we can effectively serve our neighbors in Kent and Sussex Counties who are struggling with food insecurity. We are thrilled to announce this generous lead gift made by the Swank Family Foundation as we share our plans for this exciting project.”
Ed Goldenberg, president of the Swank Family Foundation, stated, “We are pleased to provide the Food Bank of Delaware with support to increase services Kent and Sussex County residents. This is not a typical Swank Family Foundation grant but 2020-21 wasn’t a typical year. The board feels confident that Delawareans who live with neurological diseases and their families are among those who will benefit from the Food Bank’s expansion.”
Construction will begin on the new Healthy Pantry Center later in 2021 with an early 2022 opening. Design and construction of the new warehouse/workforce training space will continue through 2022 with an anticipated opening in 2023.
