RFDA reaches $6.9M goal for expanded Thunder Bay food hub ahead of schedule

The Regional Food Distribution Association reached its $6.9 million fundraising target for a 5,200-square-foot expansion in Thunder Bay, a year earlier than planned. The project adds a community training kitchen, a gathering hall and expanded warehouse and processing space.

The Regional Food Distribution Association has reached its $6.9 million fundraising target for a 5,200-square-foot expansion at its Thunder Bay headquarters. The campaign met the goal in one year, rather than the two years originally planned. The RFDA serves as a food bank for other food banks across Northwestern Ontario and says the new space will expand its capacity to prepare food and deliver programming. Donors and partners, including Feed Ontario and the grocer Metro, supported the Building Hope Capital Campaign. Project details: - $6.9 million raised to fund a 5,200-square-foot expansion. - Fundraising completed in one year instead of the planned two years. - New facilities include a community training kitchen, a multipurpose gathering hall, an expanded warehouse, a dedicated meat processing room, and a sorting room for volunteers. - Metro and Feed Ontario partnered on a $300,000 donation for the training kitchen; Metro is identified as Feed Ontario’s largest partner. - Confederation College culinary students were present working with the RFDA’s head chef, Tanner Harris, as part of activities marking the expanded building’s opening. Summary: The expansion is intended to increase the RFDA’s ability to prepare and distribute food and to host educational programs in the new training kitchen. The organization has said the gathering hall can be rented as a revenue stream and that the improvements support an expansion of services across Northwestern Ontario.