Food bank to purchase S.J. warehouse complex
SAN JOSE >> Second Harvest of Silicon Valley has struck a deal to buy a north San Jose site where the big food bank is planning a new headquarters and distribution complex.
The food bank has crafted a contract to buy from South Bay Development a site at 4553 and 4653 N. First St., the nonprofit said.
“For 47 years, Second Harvest has been the hub of the charitable food system in Silicon Valley,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a prepared release. “Their work is vital in keeping food on our neighbor’s tables.”
The 10.4-acre site that Second Harvest intends to purchase will serve as the food bank’s new headquarters and enable it to cluster most of the nonprofit’s food handling operations.
The new facility would total 250,000 square feet and consist of three connected buildings, each a single story.
The unification will affect three Second Harvest food handling sites in San Jose.
The food bank has scrambled to use temporary shifts as a way to meet the widening requirements of people who are in need of food in Santa Clara County and San Mateo County.
“The inefficiencies of working across three locations in San Jose are considerable and costly,” Leslie Bacho, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s chief executive officer, stated in a prepared release.
Second Harvest said it came to realize that a single location with sufficient capacity is preferable to makeshift operations.
“Operating three warehouses in one city requires duplicative equipment, inventory and processes to manage,” Bacho said.
The food bank’s freezer, refrigeration and office space are currently inadequate, Second Harvest said.
“Having a permanent location with increased capacity also allows us to flex when we are required to respond and support future emergencies and disasters,” Bacho said.
The food bank won’t be providing direct distributions to food recipients at the new complex.
“This is not going to be a location where our clients can come to get food or where neighbors would see long lines of cars,” Second Harvest stated.
Second Harvest works with more than 300 partners in the community to distribute over 12 million pounds of nutritious groceries every month to families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The majority of the food provided consists of fresh produce, protein and dairy items.
“The food bank is looking to become even more deeply rooted in our community by making their permanent home in Alviso,” San Jose City Councilman David Cohen said in a prepared release.
While the coronavirus raged on, food banks attempted to soften the economic toll from the deadly bug.
State and local government agencies ordered wide-ranging business shutdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus, resulting in record-setting job cuts.
The layoffs intensified pressure on food banks and other social services to assist people jolted by the economic devastation.
“During the pandemic, Second Harvest became a lifeline to thousands,” Mayor Liccardo said. “We are grateful for their continued support and are excited to see their expansion in Alviso.”
Contact George Avalos at 408-859-5167.