The Tri-State Food Bank held a private ribbon cutting on their southern Illinois produce distribution center on April 20th. The food bank has already distributed over 300,000 pounds of food to food pantries in Illinois.
The ceremony marks one year of operation for the center, as well as the food bank's purchase of the building. It is the first time the food bank has had a facility in Illinois.
Executive Director Glenn Roberts said the organization, which helps supply food pantries that deliver food to people in need, chose to start with fresh produce for a reason.
"We saw a great need in southern Illinois. We thought we needed some sort of hub to distribute food and we thought what a better way to start than healthy food, which is fresh produce, rather than any, a dry warehouse that has processed food and mac and cheese," he said. "All those things are great for feeding hungry bellies, but we wanted to start with fresh produce, which is really in high demand. People really want and crave fresh produce."
The building is being named after board member Andy Sisulak, who passed away on April 9th.
