By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
MILFORD — A successful $1 million fundraising campaign by supporters of the Milford Food Bank has opened the door for construction to begin for a new warehouse.
The concrete foundation for the warehouse across the street from the food bank’s existing building is already in place and constuction of walls will begin Monday, said Angie Deak, development manager for the Milford Food bank.
The food bank has been around since 2010 but has grown significantly in recent years and now provides food to more than 220 pantries across in 25 counties in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Food inseccurity has been increasing in recent years since the pandemic five years ago.
These days, the food bank moves between 350,000-400,000 pounds of food per month.
Demand for assistance has grown in recent months due to inflation and other factors.
On top of that, the distribution of SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) could be temporarily halted next wee as a result of the governmnt shutdown that began 25 days ago.
Officials hope constrution is complete in March.
“The need for the new facility to be able to expand our operations is very evident right now – we can’t get that building done quick enough!” Deak said.
“We’ve had an increase in pantries and facilities contacting us, saying can we come shop? Can we come get food from you?” Deak added.
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Check out the list of pantries that work with Milford Food Bank.
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Deak spoke with News Now Warsaw for its weekly public affairs show that can be heard this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.
The new 14,000 square foot warehouse will provide a larger capqcity for storage and more efficiencies, Deak said.
It will also have office space, which has been lacking at the existing warehouse on Emeline Street.
Deak, who has spent much of her life in Milford, and has 20 years of sales and marketing experience, was hired as the food bank’s first development manager in spring of 2024 at the same time warehouse expansion plans were taking shape.
Her background and networking fit well with the focus on fundraising.
“I have been overwhelmed in this last year and a half with how many people want to see Milford Food Bank succeed because they know the good work that we’re doing,” Deak said.
“It’s been a blessing to feel that support from the community,” she said.
Aside from a large network of pantries, food is also made available to “recovery homes, homeless shelters, churches or anybody who is serving or feeding people in need — they come to us for for food.”
Food insecurity has grown more common to the point that Deak said she believes everyone knows or interacts with people who worry about having enough to eat.
“There’s no way to say it doesn’t touch everybody because it does,” she said.
The food bank is now within $100,000 of its goal and will host another fundraiser on Nov. 1.
See details below.
