Corpus Christi-based food bank receives $1.5 million from Valero for new facility
The Coastal Bend Food Bank announced it will break ground on a $30 million food bank located off of Bear Lane. The 100,000-square-foot building should be ready to distribute food to those in need in 11 counties by early 2023.
Currently operating out of a 22,000-square-foot building, the food bank distributed more than 13 million pounds of food in 2020. It has operated out of the same building since 1982.
Valero Energy Co. partnered with the food bank, contributing $1.5 million as the first major donation for the campaign, known as Building Hope.
“Valero has been a champion at supporting the efforts of the food bank with volunteers and financial support,” said Bea Hanson, executive director of the Coastal Bend Food Bank, in a statement. “Working together as a community, we can accomplish the essential work of building hope.”
The new building will address five critical needs, Hansen said. It will provide:
- 80,000 additional square feet for food for a total of 100,000 square feet
- expanded cold space for more fresh nutritious foods that help combat the fight against obesity and diabetes
- additional space for the many volunteers who help make the public service a success
- more receiving and distribution bays so food contributions can come in and move out faster
- the ability to be an emergency management center during major disasters such as hurricanes
Donations are now being accepted online. Those wishing to help can make direct donations, become a fundraiser, or find a fundraiser.
“Valero is proud to be one of the first major donors to help in the food bank’s efforts to build a new state-of-the-art facility to help it continue its critical work of making sure people have food in their stomachs,” said Kevin Lassahn, vice president and general manager of Valero Corpus Christi Refineries.
