The Greater Boston Food Bank Closes $1.3 Million Deal With State for Site of New Warehouse

The Greater Boston Food Bank today finalized its $1.3 million purchase of 2.8 acres of state land in South Bay, where it plans to build a 96,000-square-foot warehouse to replace its current facility.

Legislation passed last year conveyed the land at 70 South Bay Avenue to The Food Bank for purchase at fair market value. The final agreement was approved in April by the Massachusetts Inspector General and the Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management.

The announcement of the acquisition follows the recent launch of The Greater Boston Food Bank’s $30 million “Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope” capital campaign to raise funds for the new distribution center. The Food Bank’s “Hunger in Eastern Massachusetts 2006″ study, which reported the number of people being served increased 14% since 2001 and nearly doubled since 1997, further evidenced the critical need for a larger facility.

“We are grateful to the current and former administrations and the Legislature for understanding our need to expand and for giving us the opportunity to purchase this land for a new distribution center,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “We actually began to exceed our capacity three years ago. Our new home will allow us to double our current distribution of nearly 26 million pounds of food a year to more than 600 member hunger-relief agencies in our area.”

“I am pleased that we are able to help The Greater Boston Food Bank take a critical step towards fighting hunger by doubling its ability to reach out to those less fortunate,” said Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth). “Unfortunately, more and more of our citizens need The Food Bank’s services. The purchase of this land marks the beginning of a campaign to better serve those in danger of going hungry.”

“Far too many of our most vulnerable residents are going hungry and The Greater Boston Food Bank works day and night to ensure men, women and particularly children, do not face the tough choice of skipping meals to pay their bills,” said Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi (D-North End). “This new distribution center will double The Food Bank’s output, an enormous achievement that will help meet the challenges ahead.”

The former site of the abandoned Boston incinerator, the property sits adjacent to Interstate 93 and the Suffolk County House of Correction and across the street from The Food Bank’s current facility at 99 Atkinson Street.

The new distribution center will accommodate a minimum of 15 years projected growth and will include expanded dry storage, cooler and freezer space, refrigerated docks and shopping areas, and improved salvaged food operations. Construction is slated to begin this summer, with completion projected for December 2008.

For more information about the Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope capital campaign and the new distribution center, visit www.newfoodbank.org

The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes nearly 26 million pounds of food annually to more than 600 hunger-relief agencies in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. The Food Bank serves 83,000 people each week. For more information about The Greater Boston Food Bank, visit our Web site at www.gbfb.org or call 617-427-5200.