Lexington, KY (April 15, 2025) — God’s Pantry Food Bank proudly announces the grand opening of its new Lexington warehouse and administrative offices located at 2201 Innovation Drive, a transformational step in the organization’s mission to reduce hunger across Central and Eastern Kentucky. The opening celebration also marked the public launch of a transformative $40 million “Building the Future, Nourishing Communities” capacity campaign for Kentucky’s future.
The newly renovated 127,232-square-foot facility replaces the previous Lexington location and significantly expands the organization’s ability to store, prepare, and distribute fresh, healthy food. With the expanded space and infrastructure, the Food Bank is now equipped to meet the current need of 50 million meals and scale up to 60 million meals annually, bringing the organization closer to its vision: a nourished life for every Kentuckian.
“It is an honor to stand with God’s Pantry Food Bank today as we celebrate the opening of this remarkable new facility. For seven decades, this organization has been a lifeline for families across the Commonwealth—especially in our rural counties, where hunger too often goes unseen. But milestones like this are not the finish line—they are a call to action,” said Former Governor Steve Beshear. “With one in six Kentuckians facing hunger, we must remain united in this fight. I urge leaders at every level to join us in building a stronger, more nourished Kentucky for all.”
“This move represents a transformational step forward in our ability to meet the growing needs of our community,” said Michael Halligan, President and CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank. “This new facility demonstrates our long-term commitment to reducing hunger in Kentucky and supporting our network of over 500 food pantries and meal programs across our region.”
Key Facility Features Include:
- Expanded freezer and cooler space
- Dedicated produce cooler
- Conditioned receiving dock
- Space for a future production kitchen
- Updated shipping, receiving, and administrative offices
- Improved reception and visitor area
These upgrades enable the Food Bank to greatly increase the availability and distribution of fresh, healthy items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products—critical to improving nutrition among food-insecure households.
“God’s Pantry Food Bank continues to innovate and be a vital community service organization,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “The new facility and capacity campaign not only expand the Food Banks’s infrastructure but allow it to serve even more Kentuckians. Thousands of families are thankful for the hard work done by God’s Pantry Food Bank staff, leadership team, and army of volunteers. We are proud the organization calls Lexington home.”
Campaign Details: “Building the Future, Nourishing Communities”
In conjunction with the grand opening, God’s Pantry Food Bank launched its $40 million capacity campaign—a bold initiative to ensure no child, individual, or family goes hungry in Kentucky. The campaign consists of two focus areas:
- Building the Future – $28 million
Funding will provide critically needed capital infrastructure to expand capacity and meet the need for missing meals. - Nourishing Communities – $12 million
Contributions will go directly toward food purchasing, sustaining the Food Rescue Program, expanding critical hunger-relief programs, and supporting partner food pantries and meal programs.
With over 265,000 people currently facing hunger in Central and Eastern Kentucky—including residents in 10 of the 25 most food-insecure counties in the nation—the need for increased food assistance has never been greater.
“We’re building more than a facility—we’re building a future where families don’t have to choose between food and other basic needs,” Halligan added. “And we’re inviting our entire community to be a part of that future.”
“This is a great day for God’s Pantry Food Bank and an even greater day for our neighbors who we serve,” said Dr. Andrew Henderson, God’s Pantry Food Bank Board Chair.
This milestone comes at a critical time, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently confirmed the cancelation of $500 million in food purchases for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The funding, which was announced last year, was to be funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). One-third of the food distributed by God’s Pantry Food Bank comes from USDA sources, and the loss of this funding has resulted in the cancelation of 25% of future USDA orders over the next 6 months for the Food Bank.
“God’s Pantry Food Bank serves in the epicenter of hunger. When we solve food insecurity here in Central and Eastern Kentucky, we will understand how to end hunger across America,” said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer, Feeding America. “This new facility and campaign are more than local milestones—they’re bold, strategic investments in a hunger-free future for Kentucky and beyond.”
With one in six Kentuckians facing hunger and rural areas among the hardest hit, God’s Pantry Food Bank invites the community to be part of the solution. Learn more about the Building the Future, Nourishing Communities campaign at godspantry.org/buildingthefuture.
About God’s Pantry Foodbank:
1 in 6 people in Kentucky do not know when they will receive their next meal. We empower more than 500 food pantries and meal programs across Central and Eastern Kentucky. Our vision: A nourished life for every Kentuckian. Our mission: Reducing hunger by working together to feed Kentucky communities. Visit www.godspantry.org to learn more.
Press Contact
Laura Brooks
lbrooks@godspantry.org
606-584-4572
