An entourage of North Valley Food Bank volunteers and board members will stage a groundbreaking ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, for a new facility located off Baker Avenue near the Whitefish Emergency Services Center.

Fundraising is still underway for a $1.5 million goal that includes $1 million for the building and the remainder for an endowment fund to financially sustain the operation. The plan is to build the endowment fund to a level where the interest payments will cover the nonprofit organization’s needs.

After 26 years in its current First Street location — an older home that’s been expanded three times over the years — the independent food bank has outgrown its quarters. Food Bank Director June Munski-Feenan has been involved with feeding the hungry in Whitefish since the late 1970s and remains at the helm of the organization.

In 2012, the food bank supported an average of 150 households a week and provided more than 343,000 pounds of food during the year.  

The board paid cash for the property off Baker Avenue and began fundraising more than a year ago.

The new 4,748-square-foot distribution center will include several new and upgraded features such as an enlarged meat processing center, commercial meat grinder, covered outdoor waiting area, more freezer and cooler capacity and storage for buying food by the pallet rather than by the pound.

Donations may be mailed to North Valley Food Bank, 311 E. First St., Whitefish, MT 59937. If you have building/contracting experience and would like to volunteer a day, a week or more of your time, contact Jerry Quinn at 253-3148 or Mark Schmidt at 250-6653.

More information is available online at www.northvalleyfoodbank.org; donations also may be made online.