23 March 2007

Food Bank of Corpus Christi Celebrates Grand Opening of Nutrition Education Center with ribbon cutting ceremony.

New building will feature nutrition education classes, Food Pantry and Community Garden.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - The Food Bank of Corpus Christi, Inc. hosted an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly completed Nutrition Education Center on Friday, March 23, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. located at 826 Krill Street.

The cornerstone of the new building is a "kitchen classroom", a fully equipped food preparation and demonstration area designed to help educate those who depend on donated food, as well as individuals with special dietary needs, about nutrition. Nutrition and cooking classes will offered at no cost. "It's important to not only provide food to our clients, but to teach them how to prepare healthier, more nutritious meals," said Bea Hanson, Food Bank executive director. "With the rise in obesity and diabetes, especially in our youth, this valuable training will benefit our entire community."

In addition, a food distribution pantry will serve the surrounding area's residents in need of emergency food assistance, while a community vegetable garden is planned for the area around the center. The garden will provide a hands-on way of teaching kids to eat their vegetables. "Children are more likely to eat something they had a hand in growing and preparing," said Nutrition Coordinator Donna Linnane, "and with the garden on-site, we have the opportunity to take them from seed to plate."

The 4,000 sq. foot building took less than a year to complete and was made possible through a grant from the Charity League of Corpus Christi, as well as grants from the Meadows Foundation and the Kenedy Foundation.

Since 1982, the Food Bank has been fighting hunger in the Coastal Bend by providing food and personal care products to various charity and service agencies in an 11 county area, including: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, LIve Oak, McMullen, Nueces and San Patricio. In 2006, the Food Bank of Corpus Christi, Inc. distributed 4.6 million pounds of food throughout the Coast Bend.