Calexico and IV Food Bank collaborating on distribution hub

CALEXICO – During its April 20 meeting at City Hall, the City Council approved a resolution expressing its intent to collaborate with the Imperial Valley Food Bank to address food access needs.

Sara Griffen, IV Food Bank executive director, read a letter to council members and said that the problem the food bank faces in Calexico is a lack of partner agencies to support the food distribution.

“The letter to the council was to move that concept forward and start applying and looking for funding to retrofit a building to become a food hub,” said Griffen.

Calexico has installed four drive- thru distribution sites to support the IV Food Bank. They are located in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, John F. Kennedy Park, Rodriguez Park and Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church, but according to Griffen, it is not a sustainable model.

Long lines of community members are registered at distribution sites and the Calexico Police Department helps with traffic and street closures.

“The goal of this

MAYORAL CORPUS PHOTO BY ELIZABETH The headquarters of the Imperial Valley Food Bank at 486 W. Aten Road, in Imperial.