Almost 8 years ago, the Southern States building located beside the food bank at 1329 Seventh Avenue became vacant. Since that time, we viewed that building as an opportunity to double the size of our food bank and create an opportunity for us to have an on-site pantry and provide a teaching kitchen. There have been challenges and obstacles but today, we closed on the purchase of that building! I invited Delegate Chad Lovejoy to the signing because without his advocacy to Governor Jim Justice and the WV Legislature, we would not have received the funding for this purchase and retrofitting project.

The new space will feature a full time food pantry, a distribution site for program food boxes, a teaching kitchen for nutrition education and skill development, a volunteer center, resource access coordinator services, and a second chance recovery workforce development program.

We are beyond blessed and thrilled for this expansion and the many opportunities it provides for us to provide the right food to the right people at the right time, while also expanding the opportunities for nutrition education and resources.