Idaho Foodbank, the state’s largest distributor of free food assistance, held a virtual groundbreaking yesterday to welcome its brand new facility in Meridian. This will allow the nonprofit to consolidate its Treasure Valley offices and operations into one building, four times the size of its current headquarters.

ESI is the General Contractor, rebuilding the warehouse interior to accommodate offices, volunteer spaces, a teaching kitchen, elevator, and ADA cart access.  The original coolers are now broken up into cool storage, freezer storage, and dry food storage along with easier access for delivery.

“Everyone here is motivated on making this project a success and getting it completed on time,” commented Jeret Whitescarver, ESI’s Vice President for Field Operations.  “Some of the subs have donated their time to that cause.”

Some of the features of the new facility include:

• Room to store up to 2,400 pallets of food
• 38,000 square feet of dry storage
• 10,000 square feet of freezer space
• Two coolers of 3,000 square feet apiece, one for produce and one for dairy and protein
• Special loading docks for fresh and refrigerated foods that allow these items to go directly into the coolers and freezer to minimize spoilage
• A dedicated food repacking room designed for safe food handling and efficient sanitization
• Conference rooms, a teaching kitchen, and a volunteer center, all of which will be community space that other nonprofits and the public can reserve and use

Read more>