LOWELL — A surprise spring nor’easter couldn’t keep away a warehouse full of people who came out on Thursday to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new home of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.
After 30 years of operating and growing its programs at 735 Broadway St., Executive Director Debbie Callery cut the ribbon on the newly renovated building at 1703 Middlesex St. Attending the festive occasion were U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, City Manager Tom Golden, Mayor Dan Rourke, other elected officials, as well as current and former board, staff, partners, volunteers and donors of the nonprofit.
“We’ve been dreaming of this,” Callery before wielding the oversized scissors to cut the red ribbon.
MVFB began the search for a new home in 2013, the new building was purchased in 2022 and the agency made the move this February.
The renovated facility expands MVFB’s ability to meet the needs of more than 70,000 people each month and move four million pounds of food a year. Through its six hunger relief programs, MVFB provides nutritious food to food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and other programs that serve individuals and families in 32 communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The soaring and spacious warehouse features massive racks for bulk dry storage, refrigerator and freezer capacity and four accessible loading docks.
During her remarks, Trahan referred to MVFB as the “pride of the community.“
“The partnerships that you have built are a testament to your vision of a region where no family goes hungry,” she said. “Freedom from food insecurity is a right, it’s not a privilege. Thanks to your efforts over the past 33 years, we’re closer to securing that right for every person in our community.”
The move was the result of a housing push by the administration of Gov. Maura Healey. Last May, Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll held a ceremony on the grounds of what was then the headquarters of MVFB to announce $246 million to build and preserve 1,600 affordable and mixed-income housing units in 20 communities across the state, including in Lowell.
MVFB had sold the property to Boston Capital Development, a multifamily housing investment company.
Rich Mazzochi, managing director of Boston Capital, said the deal was a win-win for the nonprofit and developer.
“Given their success and growth, it was time for them to move to a new location,” he said in May. “That opens the door for affordable housing here.”
In its place on 733-735 Broadway St. will rise a $30 million, four-story building with 52 units of affordable housing, that will also provide three permanent supportive housing units for formerly homeless families.
Most of the building will be demolished, but the developer will save two of the historic facades and restore them to their original condition,
“The transition of this property from the food bank to an affordable housing community is fitting with both serving vulnerable households in this area,” Mazzochi said.
The new space has already allowed MVFB to expand programs like Operation Nourish, which provides food to students for the weekends, and the Community Market, which offers free farmers’ markets at low-income and senior housing properties.
Among those in attendance at the event was Middlesex Community College Coordinator of Essential Needs & Community Resources Jonathan Crockett. MCC receives food for its on-campus food pantries as a MVFB member agency.
“The incredible turnout, even on a snowy day, is a testament to the deep gratitude and appreciation that so many people feel for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank,” Crockett said. “The new building makes weekly pickups much smoother, allowing us to get the food to our campus community with greater ease and efficiency.”
After the ceremony ended, and the crowd thinned out, it was back to work for the staff and volunteers of MVFB. The buzz of the crowd was replaced by the beeping sounds of forklifts driving through the aisles, moving containers of produce and pallets of canned vegetables. Another crew filled boxes with food supplies to be delivered to homebound neighbors.
“We’re not going to solve world hunger today or tomorrow,” Callery said. “But for those in our community experiencing food insecurity, we’re going to make their lives a little bit better today.”
For more information about the Merrimack Valley Food Bank or to schedule a tour of the new building, visit mvfb.org.
