State College Food Bank Celebrating 2 Years at Expanded Location With Open House

The State College Food Bank is celebrating its second year in its new location at 169 Gerald Street, and to mark the occasion it is welcoming the community to an open house.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 21, giving residents, supporters and partners an opportunity to see the impact of their generosity and learn more about the food bank’s work.

Having long outgrown its location of 10 years on South Atherton Street, the food bank acquired, renovated and expanded the Gerald Street building and moved into the 18,000-square-foot facility in the spring of 2024 — fully funded thanks grants and contributions to a $3 million fundraising campaign. Most recently, the food bank installed solar panels that will help reduce costs and environmental impact.

Allayn Beck, executive director of the State College Food Bank, said the location has helped to strengthen programs and building sustainable systems to meet increasing demand while welcoming hundreds of households.

“There’s a saying, ‘You fill the space you have,’ and we have certainly found that to be true,” Beck said in a statement. “In just two years, we have built something incredibly special alongside our community. Our food supply remains strong, our programs continue to grow, and we have been able to utilize our space in alignment with how it was designed.” 

In 2025, the food bank assisted 16,278 individuals through its pantry and had a 21% increase in pounds of food donated. More than 600,000 pounds of food was distributed back into the community, and volunteers contributed more than 17,000 hours of service.

But Beck said need continues to rise in Centre County as families face challenges from inflation, housing instability and changes to SNAP benefits and other federal support programs.

Throughout the challenges, the State College Food Bank remains a steady source of support, providing access to fresh food and essential groceries that allow clients to prepare nourishing meals.

The open house is a chance for the community to see how their support fuels the food bank’s work, Beck said.

“This event is about connection and transparency,” Beck said. “We want people to walk through our doors, see how donations are used, meet the people behind the work and better understand the role they play in making this possible.”

Looking ahead, the food bank plans to continue expanding access and reaching more individuals who need support. Primarily privately funded, the organization relies on the generosity of individuals, businesses and community partners to achieve those goals.

“We cannot do this work alone,” said Executive Director Allayn Beck. “This anniversary is not just a celebration of what we have built, but also a recognition of the community that made it possible and an invitation for others to be part of what comes next.”