The State College Food Bank is planning to move to a larger location that will accommodate its growing services to community members in need.
Located at 1321 S. Atherton St. since 2014, the food bank plans to purchase 169 Gerald Street in College Township for its new home, Executive Director Allayn Beck said in a news release. The building currently houses Apple Hill Antiques and several office tenants.
Renovations on the Gerald Street building are expected to begin in the summer of 2023, with the food bank moving in once completed.
“There are so many benefits to moving to a larger space, and this particular space is perfectly suited to our needs,” Beck said. “Plus, the Food Bank is fortunate to own our current facility, the sale of which will help to cover the purchase of the new property.”
Much like when it moved from the Hamilton Square Shopping Center to its current location eight years ago, the food bank has outgrown its space. Staff and volunteers have had to get creative with the facility, rearranging pallets and shelves throughout the workday and utilizing off-site storage space in the Nittany Mall.
Over the past eight years the food bank has transitioned to a “client choice” model that allows clients to select their items in a grocery-store-style setting rather than receiving pre-packaged boxes and bags. The need to stock more and more items for the pantry in a multi-purpose space just under 1,800-square-feet has made the logistics increasingly difficult.
“In the new location, the pantry area will be much larger, allowing staff and volunteers to serve more clients and to guide them through the space more safely and efficiently,” Beck said.
The new facility also will allow for expanded distribution hours, enhanced programs and upgraded work spaces and storage areas.
All of the food bank’s operations will be consolidated in the new location, eliminating the need for off-site storage and providing room for expanded cooler and freezer space and helping to better assist partner organizations from throughout Centre County.
“With adequate cold and dry storage space, we can more efficiently sustain the grocery inventory in our pantry, which will also strengthen our ability to support local partner organizations who operate pantries and offer food assistance around the county,” Beck said. “We’ll also be able to improve our donation receiving area and better accommodate donations from large-scale food drives.”
The new space also will alleviate parking and traffic-flow challenges presented by the current location. The parking lot will have more spaces, including multiple ADA accessible spots, as well as a covered area for loading groceries during inclement weather.
Beck said she is looking forward to increasing the food bank’s ability to serve hundreds of community members a month and thousands annually while helping partner organizations throughout the county.
“Although our name and location are based in State College, our mission and vision extend well beyond that,” she said. “This move will help us to do even more to make sure that one day, no one in Centre County goes hungry.”
