The Food Bank of Nevada County is pleased to announce that they have been awarded a $1 million grant from the California Department of Social Services to help expand its capacity to feed community members faced with food insecurity. This critical funding will support the purchase of a new warehouse unit adjacent to their existing location so that they can store additional food supplies and stock up for future needs and emergencies.
“We’ve learned a lot during the pandemic, PSPS events, wildfires and the Winter Storm. A large influx of families rely on us for food support during all these emergencies which now seem to be constant. We have to be able to source and stockpile enough food to feed everyone in need and we had outgrown our warehouse.”
– Executive Director Nicole McNeely. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Bank had to secure 20,000 sf of additional warehouse space at the Nevada City Tech Center, which was donated for over a year by Chris Anderson of Jahlibyrd and then leased at below market rates.
In addition to the increased square footage, the grant will also fund a large solar array on the roof and carports, and an electric car charging port, as well as a heavy-duty commercial plastic and cardboard baler that will help recycle the large amount of cardboard and plastic that they use every week.
Aside from being better prepared to serve Nevada County during emergencies and beyond, the Board has set goals of reducing its use of fossil fuels and transitioning to more renewable energy sources. “This funding will help us be more environmentally conscious and will reduce our large PG&E bill by about 90% and eliminate our satellite warehouse lease payment so that those funds can go to directly feeding families instead of overhead.” Said Doug Fleming, President of the Board of Directors who wrote the grant.
“We are truly grateful to the Department of Social Services for this funding and appreciate their continued support in helping us expanding our capacity to feed more Nevada County residents who are struggling to feed their families. This will support new infrastructure required to adequately serve the food insecurity needs of Nevada County, as well as enhancements to ensure the resilience and sustainability of our emergency food delivery system during climate crises and disasters.” Said Fleming
Over the next few months, there will be more information about the new warehouse “Fill It With Food” drive and ribbon cutting. For more information call the Food Bank office at (530)272-3796 or visit our website at foodbankofnc.org.