Perdue contributes $250,000 to new food bank building
Food Bank of Delaware is close to breaking ground on its new Milford facility, and on Sept. 14, it got a helping hand from one of the food bank’s longtime partners.
The Franklin and Arthur Perdue Foundation, the charity arm of Perdue Farms, donated $250,000 toward the costs of the estimated $34 million building.
Food Bank President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky said, “Perdue has been a longstanding partner of the Food Bank of Delaware, donating more than 17.2 million pounds of protein products and $560,000 since the start of our partnership. This new facility is a huge undertaking, but it is greatly needed so we can serve the residents of Kent and Sussex counties who need us. Together, with our community partners, we will raise the needed money so we can build hope here in Milford.”
Kanefsky said the new food bank facility, located adjacent to Milford Boys and Girls Club, will feature a 67,000-square foot building, four greenhouses, a packing barn and two large gardens for growing vegetables. The official groundbreaking is set for Thursday, Sept. 29, and Kanfesky said the new building should be completed by the fall of 2023.
The current Milford building, located on Mattlind Way across Airport Road from the Boys and Girls Club, is only 16,000 square feet and has been operating at 163% capacity. The Food Bank made the decision in 2020 that a new facility, which Kanefsky said would be similar to the Newark food bank complex, would be built on an 11-acre parcel purchased from the City of Milford.
Perdue has a plant on Rehoboth Boulevard in Milford and has partnered with the Food Bank for years in helping package and deliver Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes, which typically include a chicken roaster and associated supplies.
Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, said, “Perdue believes that none of our neighbors should go hungry. Anywhere we have a facility, we want to participate in addressing food insecurity. The Food Bank has been such a great partner for us over the years helping us bring hope to our neighbors and that’s what we’re doing here. We’re building hope.”
Nechay said Perdue and the Food Bank make great partners because those who work for Perdue love to help their community, and their desire to help is contagious throughout the company.
“They want to show us what’s important for them, and they have always shown us that the Food Bank has done good for their neighbors in need. That’s why this partnership is so longstanding, because our associates really believe in what the Food Bank is doing,” she said.
