Milford Food Bank broke ground on its new building Thursday, June 5. Pictured from left are Angie Higginbotham, daughter of founder, Bill Troup; Ross Mikel, board member; Development Manager Angie Deak; Executive Director Bill Doege; Board President Joe Shetler; Brian Shepherd, board member; Austin Beer, board member; Dean Lehman, board member; Rich Schlipf, board member; and Regg Beer, former executive director.
MILFORD — After a year of fundraising, Milford Food Bank has broken ground on a new building. A crowd gathered on Thursday morning, June 5 to witness the groundbreaking and hear a few words from board president Joe Shetler on how progress exceeded expectations.
In May 2024, MFB began a capital campaign with the goal of eventually raising $1,000,000 towards the construction of a new building. Since then, just over $800,000 has been donated to the cause.
“In our meetings, we kind of had like a two, three, four year plan to develop this project,” Shetler told his audience. “And suddenly towards the end of the year, December, there were some great donors. All of a sudden, we realized this project can happen.”
Until now, MFB has operated out of one 4,000 square foot building on James Street. About 75 volunteers give their time to help the food bank distribute food to its 200-plus partners. Food pantries in north, central and eastern Indiana, southern Michigan, and even one in Ohio, receive food and other necessities from MFB. From there, it goes to people in need.
Plans are for a new 14,000 square foot building including a 20 by 40 foot processing area and space for 12 aisles of product storage. A second floor will house MFB’s offices. The current building will remain as a distribution center.
Further generosity from the community came when MFB began looking for contractors for the project and found many of them willing to donate their labor and materials. Contractors donating to the construction include Sterling Contracting, J & J Drywall, Hoosier Door, Viewrail and Mr. Rooter Plumbing.
Locals Alvin and Carol Haab donated the lots the building will be built on.
Shetler also thanked volunteers; the town of Milford; and the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission and Director Matt Sandy, who rezoned the land from residential to commercial last year, allowing planning on the project to proceed.
“Through this building, physical needs will be met. Hungry people will be fed,” he said. “People stop by with emotional needs that need to be talked about; Spiritual needs will be met through this building.”
Pastor Marcus Miller led the crowd in prayer before board members donned their hard hats, grabbed their shovels and dug in.
Construction is slated to begin next week when Mr. Rooter Plumbing starts running sewer to the building site. Shetler stated he hopes the new building will be ready at the start of 2026, or possibly in the spring. Timelines will depend on the donated labor.
