By Brad Casey

The Poverello Food bank has officially moved to its new location on North Dixie Highway in Wilton Manors. The new location is a 22,000 square foot building that will also house the popular thrift store which will make its move in about two weeks.

Poverello purchased the building, a former furniture manufacturing warehouse, in 2008 for $1.5 million. The non-profit organization made a down payment of $750,000 and has a $750,000 mortgage.

The food bank is spacious with new refrigeration. Marketing and fund raising director Dale Madison says of the building, “the place is absolutely beautiful.

The contractor has done a beautiful job in creating the environment. When our clients come in they will see a bright and modern facility. It will make them feel good.”

Terry Summerville, food bank manager, says the building is incredible. “It’s a state-of-the-art energy saving building. Clients have been overwhelmingly impressed”. Summerville has been food manager for two and a half years.

It took about a week for the move and not a client missed a meal. “We closed down on a Friday and reopened the next Monday,” said Summerville.

The new building will house the food bank, thrift store and executive offices.  The food bank will be in back of the building; the thrift store will be in front.

Last year, the food bank served over 1,000,000 meals to about 2600 clients. The thrift store generates the funds to pay expenses of the organization and donations go to purchase food for its clients.

The move has been in the making for three years. Madison says, “With the move, the goal is to increase thrift store sales to be able to negotiate better prices with our food vendors.”

The new Poverello Food Bank is located at 2056 North Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, right next door to the Equality Center and two blocks South of Five Points in Wilton Manors.

The Poverello Center will have a grand opening sometime in July. Stay tuned to the Florida Agenda for more information on this upcoming event.