LEXINGTON, Ky. — God’s Pantry Food Bank broke ground on its new food bank that will allow for the nonprofit to expand its efforts to feed more people.

What You Need To Know

  •  A ceremony was held on Monday to break ground on God's Pantry Food Bank's new facility that will expand the organization's efforts to give out more meals

  •  Several people attended to give remarks, including Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, D-Ky.

  •  The building is almost 130,000 square feet, which will help the nonprofit to almost double the amount of meals that it gives out every year

  • The new facility will be up and running in October 2024

Several speakers attended the ceremony to break ground on God’s Pantry Food Bank’s new facility and talked about the impact it will have on Kentuckians.

“This facility and the investments we are making will ensure that every child, every family, every senior will have the food they need to thrive,” said Michael Halligan, the CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank.

Halligan also spoke of the impact that the nonprofit has had over the years. The organization serves 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky and is partnered with over 500 food pantries and meal programs. 

It currently provides 38 million meals a year. With the new almost 130,000-square-foot facility, that number will increase to 60 million.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, D-Ky., attended the ceremony to talk about the importance of the new food bank.

“If we want all Kentuckians to reach their potential and if we want to capitalize on all of the opportunities that are available in our communities, we have to work together to end hunger,” said Coleman. “This facility is a step in that direction.”

And it’s not just about quantity, but it’s also about quality. Currently, God’s Pantry Food Bank is constricted on the amount of fresh produce and perishable foods that it can handle, but the new facility will now have 20,000-square feet of cooler and freezer space.

“Part of what we see happening once we are in this facility is growing the amount of meat protein, growing the amount of fresh milk, growing the amount of produce, growing the amount of foods that add to a nutritious diet where people can thrive,” said Halligan.

This initiative comes at a time where there is a growing number of people facing food insecurity. The grand opening for the facility will be October 2024.

One in eight people in Kentucky are unsure about where their next meal will come from, according to God’s Pantry Food Bank.

Halligan says that it’s important for people experiencing food insecurity to reach out to organizations that are working to reduce hunger. 

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