Foodlink is getting a $650,000 grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation.
As a result, Foodlink will be moving its kitchen from Joseph Avenue to the organization's main facility on Mt. Read Boulevard, with double the space. Co-executive director Julia Tedesco said that will enable Foodlink to more than double the amount of meals it prepares.
"Currently, we prepare nutritious, hot meals from scratch for children throughout the area in afterschool programs and summer meal programs,” Tedesco said. “We prepare about 3,500 hot meals every single day. This investment will enable us to prepare upwards of 8,000 hot meals each and every day."
Foodlink will also be expanding the processing of local produce. They currently wash and slice 7,000 bags of apples that are sent to 40 school districts in the region.
Construction for the new kitchen is expected to begin in February, 2015 and be completed by December, 2015.
