The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank is resuming operations at its Fraenkel Center warehouse at 10600 S. Choctaw Drive, about four weeks after the facility took on about 4 feet of water, ruining a half million pounds of food.
In a news release, the food bank says the return to the 170,000-square-foot facility is just one step toward getting back to receiving and distributing larger quantities of food to its member agencies and the community.
While it’s still grappling with millions of dollars in damages to vehicles, heavy equipment, supplies and office furniture, the food bank’s return to the warehouse will allow it to reestablish its volunteer program and food sorting activities.
“We understand many of our neighbors now find themselves in need of food assistance for the first time in their lives, as they face stretched incomes in repairing flooded homes,” says Mike Manning, the food bank’s president and CEO. “Being able to move back into our warehouse facility on an expedited timeline will allow us to operate with much greater scale to help these families as soon as possible.”
The food bank has been operating out of a smaller temporary location on South Choctaw since the flood, and says it was able to reach almost 75% of normal operating capacity at the site. Businesses, organizations, celebrities and food banks from across the country have donated money and food to help the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank get back on its feet. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry also offered warehouse space to accept donations for the food bank.
“Despite the operational challenges caused by the flooding, we have remained focused on fulfilling our mission—collecting and distributing food to neighborhoods in need within just a few days of the flood,” Manning says.
