Cambridge Food Bank begin search for new location

After more than 20 years on Ainslie Street South, the Cambridge Food Bank is looking for a new location.

Dianne McLeod, the CEO of the Cambridge Food Bank, said the increase in demand has caused the location to run out of space. She describes it as a series of small rooms and single hallway, saying the organization moves food around several times before it goes out the door.

“We move it approximately five times before it gets out to the people in need,” said McLeod. “To do that, we’re going up and down a narrow hallway dozens of times a day moving food up and down because the room where we distribute food is at the front of the building.”

McLeod said they have been looking for a new location for the last four years but have not been able to find a suitable spot, with most of the applicable spots being seen on the Franklin Road Corridor.

“The properties we have found, many of them have contaminated lands which is a project we are really able to take on,” said McLeod. “Many are not big enough, but the ones that are, are very expensive.”

Some key features the new location would need include a loading dock and close to a bus stop. The minimum space it can manage is 25,000 square feet.

McLeod notes their lease at 54 Ainslie St. S. does not expire for another four years, but would like to find a new location sooner. They are current accepting donations to help pay for a new spot, but have not officially launched a campaign.

The Cambridge Food Bank has been on Ainslie Street South since 2001. Currently, they serve nearly 2,100 families a month and move around one million pounds of food a year.