Page 18 - BusinessWest January 22, 2024

The entry area of the new building has a multi-wall display highlighting key developments in the Food Bank’s 45-year history.
COVID struck, the Food Bank had already been scoping out properties — and considering numer- ous options, such as a two-location model that was rejected because of its expense. But soon after,
in 2020, the nonprofit found its ideal spot in Chi- copee, launched the capital campaign in 2021, and started building in 2022.
The site had a couple of advantages, one being its proximity to two interstate highways, another being the county’s population and demographic makeup, Morehouse explained.
“The more we thought about moving to Hamp- den County, the more we realized that was what we needed to do — not only because of the proximity to the largest concentration of people who are faced with insecurity, but also because, quite frankly, it would enable us to strengthen our relationships with communities of color, which, unfortunately, face food insecurity disproportionately relative to the rest of society.”
As for the campaign, it drew the support of 246 individuals, businesses, and foundations — but there was some anxiety early on, especially since it was launching during a challenging economic time, year two of the pandemic.
Morehouse credited the early, significant support by Big Y and MassMutual in “grounding” the cam- paign and lending confidence that it could succeed. After that, the entire banking community stepped
in, as did and a host of other businesses, foundations, and individu- als, including major contributions from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation and CNS Wholesale Grocers.
“Before we had launched the campaign, there was a lot of inter-
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“I just had the faith that we could accomplish it and that the community would rally behind us, and they did.”
Top Entrepreneur
Continued from page 16
18 JANUARY 22, 2024
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