Back in January, we talked with Western Slope Director Sue Ellen Rodwick about the important role the new Western Slope Etkin Family Distribution Center will play in helping end hunger across the Western Slope.
It’s been almost six months since we broke ground on the building, so we checked in with Rodwick as well as Steve Kullberg, COO of Food Bank of the Rockies, and Tevin Thompson, construction project manager for Food Bank of the Rockies, to get an update on construction and a few of the things they are most looking forward to when the new building opens later this year.
“We are making rapid progress on the construction of our new 50,400-square-foot distribution center in Grand Junction,” said Kullberg. “This new facility will provide expanded refrigerated space that will allow us to continue to expand the amount of fresh produce, eggs, and milk products that we supply for our 145+ partners all across the Western Slope.”
Fast Facts About the Western Slope Etkin Family Distribution Center
- The new building’s 400% more refrigeration space, 39% more dry storage, and 59% more frozen-storage space will enable us to work with more local agricultural partners to source and distribute more nutritious fruits and vegetables to clients.
- A new partnership with St. Mary’s Medical Center Meals on Wheels Mesa County will provide more fresh meals to more older adults across Mesa County.
- Over the past several years, the 12 counties serviced by our Western Slope Distribution Center, as well as part of Gunnison County, experienced the largest increase in need of any Food Bank of the Rockies service area.
- You can help bring more nourishing food to more of our neighbors across the Western Slope by partnering with us as a donor today!
More Progress Photos
