Q: Why is the Capital Area Food Bank undertaking a capital campaign?

Since moving into our current building 18 years ago, we have successfully increased our operations and scope of work in the community. Now, however, we’re stretched to the limit.   

Our warehouse lacks the space and technology that we need to distribute increased volumes of food and further expand our outreach programs.  

The food bank is increasing its capacity so that it can better meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people in the Washington metropolitan region who are struggling to feed themselves and their families.  

Q: Why are you expanding your operations in the midst of an economic downturn?

The food bank began its capital campaign in response to a sharp rise in demand for emergency food assistance that has been occurring for years – well before the recent dramatic changes in the US economic climate.  

Since the recession began, the number of people in need of emergency food assistance has skyrocketed. The need for our services, and for a larger food bank, is greater now than ever before.  

Q: How will these funds be spent?

Funds raised during this campaign will be spent on property acquisition, architectural design, construction, and campaign expenses.

Q: Are you building a completely new building or renovating an old one?

We will be renovating an existing building a half-mile from our current facility.  Current design plans include the construction of 100,000 square feet of new warehouse space.

Q: What is the duration of the capital campaign?

We plan to continue securing gifts and pledges over the next 2 years and begin construction no later than Spring 2010. 

Q: Is there reason to believe that more food would be available to fill a bigger warehouse?

Yes.  The USDA estimates that our country wastes 96 billion pounds of food every year.  The food bank must currently turn away millions of pounds of food each year because of lack of refrigeration space and sheer quantity of donations.  

Q: How will the campaign allow the food bank to better address the root causes of hunger? 

Hunger is a symptom of poverty, and the food bank’s services help to address poverty in several ways.  

• The food that the CAFB distributes reduces the need for families to make trade-offs between feeding themselves and paying for other essentials such as housing, medicine, and child care. When households reduce food expenditures, the risk of inadequate nutrition dramatically increases, making it hard for adults to think and work, and for children to learn and grow.
• The food bank also helps to alleviate poverty by enhancing the quality and range of food and support services available to over 700 partner agencies.  Agencies can channel money saved in food costs towards providing other core services (such as job training and affordable medical care) which offer clients opportunities to make life changes that lead them out of poverty and towards food security and financial stability. 
• The food bank’s own direct service initiatives also empower clients. In conjunction with the food and fresh produce that the CAFB provides, our programs afford clients resources, knowledge, and/or skills that allow them to live healthier lives.