The Owensboro Times
By Ryan Richardson
Green River Community Food Warehouse (GRCFW) has reached an agreement to purchase the Clark Distributing Company property downtown, with plans to create a centralized, temperature-controlled facility that leaders say will transform the fight against hunger in Owensboro and Daviess County.
The nonprofit traces its roots back to a 2019 United Way hunger relief committee, where community leaders identified a gap in Owensboro’s food infrastructure. Unlike nearby cities such as Elizabethtown or Evansville, Owensboro has lacked a centralized warehouse capable of storing truckloads of surplus food, the nonprofits’ leaders said. That has often meant large donations — including proteins from poultry farms and fresh produce — were redirected elsewhere.
The Green River Community Food Warehouse is dedicated to reducing hunger across Owensboro and Daviess County by collecting, storing, and distributing donated food. It supports a network of local food pantries and soup kitchens and aims to ensure that no neighbor goes hungry.
“The Clark family is selling the property to GRCFW at below market price. This represents a large contribution to make this project a reality,” said Steve Innes, Executive Director of GRCFW. “We want to thank the Clark family for their generosity and commitment that will improve life in our community. This takes us one step closer to feeding thousands more people who are food insecure.”
The warehouse, located at 1222 East 4th Street, will allow GRCFW to collect and store large quantities of donated food and distribute it free of charge to local food pantries and soup kitchens. The facility will also support pantries and kitchens by storing food they secure independently, reducing waste, and strengthening the local food system.
According to Feeding America, more than 15,000 residents in Owensboro and Daviess County face food insecurity, equating to nearly 1.4 million meals needed monthly. GRCFW officials emphasized that the barrier is not food availability but infrastructure.
Claude Bacon, President & CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, said the project demonstrates the value of public-private collaboration.
“At its core, economic development is about strengthening communities, and this partnership is a great example of what that looks like in practice,” Bacon said. “When businesses and nonprofits collaborate to meet community needs, the result is a stronger Owensboro for everyone.”
Founded in 1954, Clark Distributing Company is a family-owned beverage distributor serving Owensboro and surrounding communities. The company has outgrown its current site and plans to build a new facility locally to accommodate growth, according to a release about the agreement.
Terms of the transaction and timing for the transition have not been disclosed.
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