Foodlink Announces $15M Infrastructure Upgrades to Expand Community Support
Foodlink has unveiled a $15 million, multi-year infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing its Mt. Read Boulevard headquarters and community farm on Lexington Avenue. The project will expand capacity and improve efficiency as demand for emergency food assistance surges.
Visits to local food pantries and meal programs rose 36% in 2024, reaching 1.8 million, up from 1.3 million in 2023. In response, Foodlink increased its food purchase investment by 260%.
Key Upgrades Include:
A new energy-efficient commercial cooler, boosting cold storage by 69% to support the distribution of 25 million pounds of food annually.
Expansion of the Lexington Avenue Community Farm with additional land, raised beds, and an Edible Education Center for nutrition programs and year-round growing.
A fourfold increase in operational space for the Curbside Market, improving efficiency and food quality for customers.
Expanded dry storage and additional ovens in the Community Kitchen, which produced over 2 million meals for local children last year.
Sustainability and safety improvements, including repaved parking areas and upgraded exterior lighting.
President & CEO Julia Tedesco emphasized the urgency of these upgrades. "Foodlink’s role in emergency food distribution and public health has grown significantly, but our infrastructure must keep pace to meet rising demand."
Foodlink purchased its facility in 2022 and launched initial renovations in early 2023. Construction is expected to continue through 2027, with major components already underway.
Funding sources include federal, state, and city grants, along with private contributions. Notably, a $5 million gift from Thomas Golisano will support these efforts, with $900,000 allocated to the farm and $50,000 to the Mt. Read facility in the first year.
"Ensuring access to nutritious food is a top priority, and these investments will help sustain Foodlink’s mission for years to come," said Assemblymember Sarah Clark.
Milestone Construction Partners and Hamilton Stern Construction are leading the projects, with design support from Erdman Anthony and SWBR Architecture.
For more information or to support the initiative, visit FoodlinkNY.org/NourishingTomorrow.
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