Northern Nevada food bank receives grant for new center

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada will break ground in the fall on a new food distribution center in north Reno, thanks to an $8.1 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

The grant will allow construction of a new $6 million, 66,000 square-foot distribution center that will be three times larger than the food bank's leased warehouse in Sparks.

Carson City organizations that rely on food from the organization will also benefit from the new center. The food bank serves all of Northern Nevada, which includes the Ron Wood Family Resource Center of Carson City.

"I think it's fantastic. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is an excellent partner for us," said resource center Executive Director Sharlea Payne. "The more resources they have, the more benefit it is to everyone."

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada collects and distributes about 3 million pounds of food annually, food bank Communications Manager Janice Hoke said Wednesday.

"We hope to double that amount once get in building and functioning, the goal is 6 million pounds of food," she said.

The grant will fund construction of roads to the site as well as large coolers, freezers and other equipment.

"If we didn't have this grant, we would seriously think about our ability to build this facility," said Cherie Jamason, president and chief executive officer of the food bank.

"We needed more refrigeration; we have to turn away food because of storage space," she said. "We can't accept produce and fresh fruit and vegetables or perishables."

Set to open in fall 2006, the three-level center will be named the Donald W. Reynolds Regional Food Distribution Facility. It will sit on six acres of a 20-acre lot near Parr Boulevard and U.S. 395 North.

The land was donated by Laperrona LLC partners, a local development company.

Hoke said the food bank will focus on a capital campaign for the endowment fund, which will take care of the maintenance of the building.