Food Bank of the Rockies doubles footprint with new distribution center
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The new Food Bank of the Rockies distribution center. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
Inside the new Food Bank of the Rockies distribution center, president and CEO Erin Pulling pulled a bright safety vest over her shoulders before walking inside a warehouse with pallet racks stacked three stories high.
The big picture: The new, $75 million site bordering Denver's Green Valley Ranch neighborhood spans some 270,000 square feet — making it nearly three times as large as the average Home Depot.
- The nonprofit celebrated its grand opening Thursday.
Why it matters: The nonprofit expects demand for food assistance to double over the next few years, staff tell us, due to cuts to federal benefit programs under the Trump administration.
- Staff say the new distribution center will allow more food to be stored, processed and delivered efficiently.
State of play: The nonprofit had long since outgrown its former space — a roughly 116,000-square-foot facility in Denver — when planning for the new site started several years ago, Pulling told Axios.
- The new site can host up to 300 volunteers.
- It includes a dedicated kitchen, a repackaging room, state-of-the-art appliances allowing for quicker food preparation, and solar panels providing 90% of energy needs for the center.
By the numbers: The center distributes enough food for 200,000 meals daily.
Context: Food Bank of the Rockies works with about 700 hunger relief partners across 32 Colorado counties and the entire state of Wyoming to distribute food it receives from retailers, manufacturers and the USDA.
- The nonprofit also has agricultural partners providing food, in addition to buying produce on its own.
What they're saying: "It has been so heartening to see people's generosity," Pulling said, noting that the nonprofit saw an increase in charitable backing that mirrored the growth in need last fall.
What's next: The nonprofit plans on establishing an on-site food pantry, which would allow the nearby public to pick up food directly from the food bank, Pulling said.