A barren lot in the middle of Oxnard will be transformed into a regional food bank of the future.
Food Share broke ground Sept. 11 on its $50 million, 85,000-square-foot facility on Mariner Drive in Oxnard.
The nonprofit feeds more than 250,000 people a year, and the finished site will allow the organization to increase its capacity for decades to come. The nonprofit has nearly reached its goal, raising $46.3 million.
"This day did not happen because of one person," said Monica White, president and CEO of Food Share, at the event. "It did not happen because of one organization, and it definitely did not happen from one idea. It happened because an entire community believed something better was possible."
Hundreds of supporters attended the festive,
outdoor event under a large tent at Food Share's future home on Mariner Drive. In addition to Food Share volunteers, workers and board members, public officials, donors and members of the community joined in celebrating the nonprofit's milestone.
Food Share's facility is designed to bring the organization's operations under one roof, the nonprofit said in a news release. The site will allow the nonprofit to expand food storage, refrigeration and freezer capacity, volunteer space, distribution capabilities and disaster-response readiness.
Once up and running, the facility will allow Food Share to increase its annual food distribution capacity to as much as 40 million pounds by 2040.
To learn more about Food Share's capital campaign, visit foodshare.com..
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Food Share marks milestone for $50M facility at groundbreaking
