Katy Christian Ministries recently expanded its food pantry to keep up with growing needs in the area.
Heather Peterson, director of development and strategic partnerships for Katy Christian Ministries, said the local need for food has doubled within the last nine months and the organization’s previous food pantry could not keep up with demand.
The details
Rather than stick with a traditional food pantry, Katy Christian Ministries officials determined a grocery-store-style facility featuring a brighter and more efficient layout would better suit the community’s needs.
The 13,000-square-foot pantry—dubbed the Katy Food Center—includes a warehouse room for dry goods and increased fridge and freezer space, Peterson said.
The center also has a drive-thru, currently seeing 130 to 150 cars each morning, with the goal of having 225 to 250 cars per day.
Diving in deeper
Peterson said the food center expansion was funded from the Houston Food Bank’s major capital expansion grant.
Also of note
Construction began in February and ended June 15, with equipment installation expected to be completed by the end of August, Peterson said. Katy Christian Ministries held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new center July 15.
The pantry operates four days a week from 8 a.m. to noon, but Peterson said she hopes to go to a model running from Monday through Friday until 3 p.m.
