4,000-square-foot space to increase capacity for donated food
New home for Food Link, 108 Summer St. / Bob Sprague photo
UPDATED, Oct. 4: Food Link, an Arlington-based food-rescue organization, is acquiring the NAPA auto-parts building at 108 Summer St.
Since its founding in 2012, Food Link has grown exponentially, now collecting and distributing more than 500,000 pounds of donated fresh food annually, enough to prepare 400,000 nutritious meals.
“We are so excited about our new home, which will expand Food Link’s capacity to help the communities we currently serve and also provide the potential to help more neighborhoods,” said DeAnne Dupont, Food Link president and cofounder in an Oct. 3 news release. “With 4,000 square feet of space, Food Link’s new facility will allow us to consolidate our entire operations under one roof, providing greater cold and dry storage capacity, office space for our staff, and a more accessible working environment for our 150 dedicated volunteers.”
The purchase of 108 Summer St. is made possible by the generous award of $327,000 to Food Link from the Arlington Community Development Block Grant and financing offered by Leader Bank. Food Link is launching a capital campaign in support of the building acquisition and renovation in early 2019.
The Summer Street building, owned by the Xenos family and closing after 42 years, was the focus of a YourArlington business feature last month, when its closing was announced.
Nicholas G. Xenos, a family member, wrote Oct. 3 in response to a request for comment: “We have been working with the folks at Food Link for many months to make this sale happen.
“We view it as a win-win-win-win event. The Xenos Family, the Town of Arlington, Julie and DeAnne and the wonderful people at Food Link — but most importantly, the people that Food Link serves- – all will win. We look forward to the expected closing sometime in November.”
DuPont declined to say what the purchase price was.
Food Link collects high-quality fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread and prepared foods that would otherwise be wasted from local grocery and prepared food stores.
The organization delivers the nutritious food to more than 30 social service agencies — serving more than 18,000 people in need — including after school programs, programs for at-risk youth, low-income housing facilities, homeless shelters, food pantries, veteran organizations and senior centers.
Food Link serves 11 communities throughout greater Boston, from South Boston to Lawrence and Lowell. It operates 363 days a year, and is powered by more than 150 volunteers.
Continuing to be situated on Broadway, near the Thompson School, it opened a temporary office this summer in a small space off Brattle Street. Once 108 Summer is ready, Food Link operations will move there.
This news announcement was published Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, and updated Oct. 4.
