Food Bank of WNY board members and staff, along with community partners and area dignitaries, celebrated the unveiling of the organization’s new distribution center and delivery truck Wednesday. P-J photo by Gavin Paterniti

FALCONER — With full fanfare, the Food Bank of WNY celebrated its operations and services in Chautauqua County this week.

On Wednesday, the food bank unveiled its new Chautauqua County Distribution Center at 2485 Falconer-Frewsburg Road in Falconer, along with its new Partners Fighting Hunger delivery truck, before its partners, sponsors and area dignitaries.

Members of the Food Bank of WNY’s Board of Directors and staff gathered with representatives from Chautauqua County foundations, regional corporate partners, elected leaders and member agencies to celebrate the organization’s relocation to a larger facility and acquisition of the 26-foot refrigerated truck.

Both of these advancements will allow the organization to meet the increased demand for food throughout, and better serve the 17,667 county residents — and 4,707 families — who rely on the organization in any given month.

“The Food Bank of WNY is pleased to be able to expand our operations in Chautauqua County and reaffirm our commitment to those in need with our new distribution center and delivery truck,” said Marylou Borowiak, Food Bank of WNY president and chief executive officer. “Additionally, we are thankful for the dedication of our 50 member agencies throughout the county. These agencies are on the front lines in the fight against hunger, and it is because of our wonderful community partnerships that the Food Bank of WNY is able to continue to fight hunger one day at a time.”

According to statistics provided by the Food Bank of WNY, 18.9 percent of Chautauqua County’s population live in poverty, the seventh highest population percentage living in poverty of New York state’s 62 counties. Last year, the Food Bank of WNY distributed nearly 2 million pounds of food through its Partners Fighting Hunger direct delivery program. With the addition of the new Partners Fighting Hunger delivery truck to its fleet, the organization can distribute an additional 2,200 pounds — more than a metric ton — of food per truckload.

Captain John Merchant, director of the Salvation Army of Dunkirk and Jamestown, said the new truck is a blessing for his agencies.

“A refrigerated truck will allow our products to maintain their freshness, and the lift gate will make the process of unloading the truck so much more efficient for our volunteers,” Merchant said. “We want to thank the Food Bank of WNY for listening to our concerns and taking action. When we know that there’s an issue, they come and talk to us and help us to resolve it. This new facility and this truck are going to do just that.”

The new delivery truck and continuation of the Partners Fighting Hunger program was supported by the Carnahan-Jackson Foundation, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Delta Air Lines, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the Lenna Foundation, the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation Inc. and Wegmans Food Markets.

Additional truck and program supporters include Cummins’ Jamestown Engine Plant, the Jesse Smith Darrah Fund and the Holmberg Foundation, Inc.

For more information about the programs and services offered by the Food Bank of WNY, visit foodbankwny.org.