download THE PDF VISION CENTER CASE STATEMENT HERE!

Prior to the pandemic, Clark County Food Bank was already planning to expand operations to meet growing community needs, and had begun to set aside the financial resources for a new facility. The pandemic not only heightened awareness of the need for additional food bank resources, but also created a wave of unprecedented support for the Food Bank from a generous community committed to the alleviation of hunger.

Clark County Food Bank is undertaking a five million dollar Capacity Campaign to support a new best-practices food pantry, training, service, and specialty warehousing center adjacent to Clark County Food Bank’s current building. The new facility will allow the Food Bank to expand programs and serve as a guide for all current pantry partners. The Vision Center will enable the Food Bank to advance its mission to alleviate hunger and its root causes, and to further its vision of inspiring and growing a network of community health in Clark County.

Clark County Food Bank is partnering with Colf Construction to construction a build-to-suit facility, the Clark County Food Bank Vision Center. The new space will introduce a significant supply of more diverse food into the system and serve hundreds more clients each week.

Through the focused stewardship of the Food Bank Board of Directors and staff, one million dollars has been set aside to reduce the cost of the upcoming building lease for ten years. The Clark County Food Bank Vision Center is seeking five million dollars in matching support to fund technology, amenities, utilities, lease, and program costs to help the Food Bank best serve its partners and the community.

BEST PRACTICES PANTRY

COMMUNITY SPACE

CREATIVE FOOD SOURCING & WAREHOUSING

PARKING

Best Practices Pantry

The need for a best-practices pantry has emerged as Clark County Food Bank has witnessed changes in client needs and stakeholder engagement. Our partner network will benefit from a pantry that tests new methods of distribution and programming in a best-practices approach. The pantry will focus on innovative client engagement and wrap-around services, as well as offer CSA boxes from local farms, free lunches and healthy snacks for shoppers, and a convenient shopping experience, featuring merchandising and signage that follows behavioral economic principles.

Community Space

The community space will feature a large cafe-like gathering space and kitchen where business and nonprofit meetings can take place. Here, Clark County Food Bank will host lunches, gather its partner agencies, and offer other resources to clients, like trainings and clinics. The Food Bank will also use this community space for hands-on educational programs, leadership development and community engagement with the aim to empower the community in advancing the mission and vision of Clark County Food Bank.

CREATIVE FOOD SOURCING & WAREHOUSING

The specialty warehousing in the Vision Center will open up the opportunity to obtain significantly more and better food streams in the community that Clark County Food Bank cannot currently access. The new warehouse will be able to process and distribute food that the Food Bank currently declines due to space and storage limitations. With additional warehouse space, the food bank will increase distribution capacity by hosting larger groups of volunteers to sort food, and pursuing food sources that secure more targeted food for specific populations.

Parking

The Vision Center will provide additional parking spaces that will replace Clark County Food Bank’s nearby overflow parking lot. The new parking lot will more safely accommodate staff and volunteers on a daily basis.