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Food Link Plans Move To Exeter

Sandy Beals

Sandy Beals

FoodLink for Tulare County plans a move to Exeter from Visalia this Spring upon completion of a USDA loan to buy warehouse property there.

Executive Director Sandy Beals says the loan process is almost complete on a $800,000 loan enabling the non-profit group to buy the former Pinkham warehouse at 611 2nd St. The warehouse is 23,000 sf including a 5000 sf cold storage facility with the configuration allowing the food bank to store lots more product says Beals.

“The high ceilings help us store more going up.” The money will be used for both purchase and remodel of the facility.

The warehouse also sits on 2.2 acres enabling them to hold distribution functions outside and do projects like a community garden she says.

“This move for us will be more affordable for us” – an organization that depends on community and corporate donations to stay afloat. ”We barely get by each month and this will make our monthly payment easier.”  USDA’s low interest rates helps make owning less expensive than renting.

FoodLink has always rented space in the Visalia Industrial Park since 1978 but would own their Exeter facility.

“We hope to be in by April.”

Beals who has worked at the food bank since the beginning says they have 7 staffers and 1000 volunteers.”

“FoodLink is committed to ending hunger for those in need by providing healthy food and nutrition education through community involvement” states its purpose.

FoodLink warehouses and distributes millions of pounds of food annually to a network of more than 80 local nonprofit agencies, which directly feed needy families. In 2010, food distributed through FoodLink’s efficient network of food collection, preservation, and distribution reached more than 120,000 people, with more than two thirds of those served being children.
But food distribution alone is not enough to end hunger in our area. FoodLink also works to combat hunger through hunger-relief advocacy, and to eliminate its long-term effects through proper nutrition.

FoodLink is always looking for volunteers.FoodLink relies on the help of many individuals and groups who give of their time to help us prepare and distribute food. If you have time to give, there is sure to be a place we can use your talents! Or you may wish to schedule a friendly FoodLink volunteer competition between teams from your workplace or church group! Call us at (559)651-3663.

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