Milford Food Bank Celebrates Growth
Published: Friday, April 3, 2026
Milford Food Bank celebrated the near-completion of their new food storage facility last Friday with their annual Night of Faith Fundraiser.
The food bank partners with over 250 different supplemental food programs, such as pantries, churches and community kitchens, across Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Scott Griffey of GymTown Food Bank and Pantry sang praises of Milford Food Bank during the celebration. He shared the story of how Milford Food Bank helped him get his facility started. He said GymTown grew from serving 30 families in 2021 to over 400 in 2024.
"Last year, God gave us a warehouse," he said.
It was completed just before Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program funding ran out last November. The next week, GymTown Food Pantry reopened as a food bank, full of food and ready to distribute to the emptied pantries across Elkhart County, all thanks to the support of Milford Food Bank, Griffey said.
"From your beginnings 15 years ago in a neighbor's barn, you were given a little. And you were faithful and you were trustworthy with it," Griffey said. "Now you stand at another big step in your calling to follow God."
The new facility will increase food distribution from 350,000 pounds of food to 700,000 pounds of food shared across Michiana and northern Ohio. This will allow approximately 200,000 people to have access to healthy food each month.
Chris Stoller, executive director of Milford Food Bank, thanked patrons for their contribution to the program, explaining that Milford Food Bank is independent of Feeding America, which limits religious activities among food banks and pantries.
He added that they believe they can be more efficient outside of the government-funded system.
"Because of those two things, we are very in demand for what we do," Stoller said.
He added that Milford Food Bank is often approached by food pantries in need of additional support outside of what is given through Feeding America.
"The future that (the warehouse) gives us is going to be tremendous," said Chris Stoller, executive director of Milford Food Bank.
The Milford Food Bank team also honored Joe Shetler, warehouse project manager and board president for his work with the charity. He was presented with a plaque dedicated to him in honor of his service to the community, which will hang over the stairway leading to a second-story section in the warehouse.
The facility includes a large open floor for food storage and distribution, a kitchen and an upstairs area. After the event concluded, attendees were invited to tour the warehouse.
A grand opening of the new building will be held in the coming weeks.
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