Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Expands Capacity with New Facility

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has acquired a new 15,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its existing building on Broadway. This $2 million project will more than triple the organization’s capacity to salvage surplus food that would otherwise be wasted. The new space will allow for 750 pallets, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 204 pallets, according to Victor Garcia, President and CEO.

A ‘Bread Breaking Ceremony’ marked the acquisition of the new building at 6510 Broadway in Merrillville. The ceremony took place on August 27, 2026, with a crowd gathered to celebrate this expansion. The facility lies next to the nonprofit’s current headquarters, enabling potential further expansion if required.

Garcia highlighted that the organization distributed 11.4 million pounds of food last year, a record. However, the demand in Northwest Indiana stands at around 20 million pounds. Credit was given to Jeff Strack, President and CEO of Strack & Van Til, and a board member of the Food Bank, for his role in securing the cold storage warehouse.

Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America, praised Garcia for innovation and community-focused investments. As federal food assistance diminishes, the requirement for resources increases. McDonough emphasized that such infrastructure enhances responsiveness, especially evident after the storm on August 11, which left 265 outages 16 days later. He stated that such facilities allow better distribution of dairy, protein, and frozen foods.

With the addition of the new cold storage area, the current freezer space will be converted to refrigerated storage, further aiding the food distribution mission. McDonough expressed confidence in the organization’s ability to combat hunger effectively.

U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan commended the community’s resilience in the wake of recent storms, assuring continued advocacy for federal support for food assistance. Garcia acknowledged the many local organizations involved in battling hunger alongside the Food Bank. Participants at the ceremony shared in the communal breaking of bread, symbolizing a collective commitment to support one another and fight hunger.

Bob Jacobs, the Food Bank board President, concluded by praising recent progress and emphasizing the ongoing work required to meet community needs.