San Diego Food Bank Opens Major North County Warehouse, Boosting Hunger Relief Efforts
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A generous donation has enabled the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego food Bank to establish a permanent North County warehouse in Vista, considerably expanding its capacity to combat food insecurity across the region.
The newly opened 60,000-square-foot facility on Oak Ridge Way, unveiled Friday, replaces a leased space utilized by the institution for the past decade. This strategic move is projected to generate approximately $400,000 in annual savings, previously allocated to rental costs.
Redirecting Savings to Community Impact
Food bank leadership confirmed that the financial gains will be directly reinvested into bolstering hunger relief programs and enhancing operational efficiency. “We can put solar up on our building, we can build bigger refrigeration. We’ll save hundreds of thousands of more dollars that can be directed to serving more people,” a senior official stated. This commitment to infrastructure improvements underscores a long-term vision for sustainable impact.
A Tour of the New Facility
A grand opening tour, lead by General Manager David Perez and attended by State Senator Catherine Blakespear and Vista Mayor John Franklin, showcased the warehouse’s extensive capabilities. The facility includes a dedicated volunteer orientation room and a specialized sorting area for the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program,which provides essential meals to students throughout North County.
The food bank currently serves all school districts in North County, including Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, and Fallbrook.
Enhanced Storage and Efficiency
The new warehouse boasts a 2,100-square-foot refrigerator for perishable food storage, with plans to add a 4,100-square-foot freezer – a ample upgrade from the previous operation. Previously,the organization relied on diesel-powered tractor trailers,freezers,and refrigerators operating around the clock,incurring significant expenses. “For the last few years we were operating after tractor trailers, a freezer and refrigerator running on diesel, 24/7, so as you can imagine, the price of that was pretty expensive,” Perez explained.
Expanding Support Services
Beyond food distribution, the site now houses the food bank’s diaper bank, providing crucial supplies to families throughout San Diego County. Last year alone, the diaper bank distributed 8.5 million diapers,and the expanded space will allow for increased capacity. “All parts of the county will receive diapers that are stored hear. again, with larger space, more optimized space, we’re going to be able to do more diapers as of that,” a senior official added.
The final stop on the tour highlighted the client food pantry, offering access to refrigerated items, canned goods, dry staples, and fresh produce for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
For more facts about the North County Food Bank, please visit here.
Why: The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank opened a permanent North County warehouse in Vista to expand its capacity to combat food insecurity and reduce operational costs.
Who: The key players involved are the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank, General Manager David Perez, State Senator Catherine Blakespear, Vista Mayor John Franklin, and the communities served in North County (Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, and Fallbrook).
What:
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