The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has acquired a 15,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its Broadway headquarters. This new space allows them to more than triple their food rescue capacity, increasing storage from 204 pallets to 750 pallets, shared Victor Garcia, the nonprofit’s President and CEO.
A formal “Bread Breaking Ceremony” was held on August 27, 2026, celebrating the purchase of the building located at 6510 Broadway in Merrillville. This acquisition offers potential for future expansion, according to Garcia. He noted that while the food bank moved 11.4 million pounds of food last year, the community demand stands at approximately 20 million pounds.
The acquisition was partly possible due to the efforts of Jeff Strack, President & CEO of Strack & Van Til and a member of the Food Bank’s board. Strack helped identify the available cold storage warehouse, which required significant fundraising to meet the $2 million price tag.
During the ceremony, Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America, praised Garcia’s leadership and the strategic investments made to enhance the food bank’s operations. He highlighted the importance of infrastructure in expanding the response capability, especially in emergencies like the recent derecho storm. As of midday that Thursday, NIPSCO reported 265 outages; the food bank had been actively distributing food in the affected areas.
Garcia also emphasized the role of the new facility in helping convert existing freezer space into refrigerated storage, enhancing their capacity to provide more nutritious foods such as dairy and proteins. This development supports McDonough’s vision of not just feeding people, but ultimately ending hunger.
U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan highlighted the community’s resilience in the wake of natural disasters, asserting that unity and mutual support have strengthened their spirit. Mrvan affirmed his commitment to securing federal funding for food assistance, advocating for those who rely on the food bank’s services.
Victor Garcia expressed gratitude towards local food pantries, schools, and various organizations involved in combating hunger. The ceremony concluded with participants collectively breaking bread, symbolizing community unity and shared responsibility. Food Bank board President Bob Jacobs urged everyone to celebrate their progress but also to remain committed to the ongoing fight against hunger.
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