Fighting hunger by swallowing space

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - A drop in the bucket.

It's what those at The Foodbank get a taste of everyday.

"We are very careful with our food safety issues however the roof has some issues here," says The Foodbank CEO Michelle Riley.

But the biggest issue with the roof of the Washington Street building that The Foodbank has been under for more than 20 years is that there's not enough of it.

Thanks to the generosity of local stores, The Foodbank's produce amount has jumped from 59,000 lbs. two years ago to 1.2 million lbs. last year.

"We pick up what they wouldn't use, bring it here and distribute it to 85 non-profits," Riley says.

But finding the space to put all that food isn't easy.

That's where the city of Dayton and one run down property come in.

"We thought it would be a great win-win for us to present them an opportunity like this," says Assistant City Manager for Strategic Development Shelley Dickstein.

The only food you'll find at the former Reynolds and Reynolds site off Washington Street are empty chip bags, but all that's about to change after city commissioners approved Wednesday selling the land to The Foodbank for $5.

The price may seem low, but city leaders say the property isn't worth much to businesses because it's so hard to get to.

"It has great visibility off 75 but accessibility is difficult," Dickstein says.

But for The Foodbank, the land marks the end of a long journey of its own.

It will use the property to build a new facility and move out of the old one that it rents, adding seven new workers along the way.

"This building was built quite a long time ago and the new building is built for food flow to come in one side and out the other," Riley says.

The move will be a fresh start for a place that will now be better able to provide thousands with fresh fruit and vegetables.

When it comes to helping the community, it's all much more than just a drop in the bucket.

"People really understand the issue of hunger," Riley says.

The Foodbank plans to start construction in April and hopes to move in by December.