Less than a Year Later, a Texas Food Bank is Back Feeding the Community with the Help of Kysor Panel Systems

FORT WORTH, Texas – April 25, 2011 – Nearly a year has gone by since the non-profit Harvesting International Ministry (HIM) Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to feeding the poor in North Texas had suffered an unforeseen setback in their food distribution process. After years of faithful service and many repairs, their cooler and freezer warehouse system failed. Without a means of storing the large quantities of donated food, the food bank was on the verge of a shutting down. Many people within the community came to the aid of the ministry and donated residential-sized freezers as a temporary solution but it became apparent that what was really needed was a long-term solution.

Kysor Panel Systems, a Manitowoc Foodservice company specializing in the manufacture of commercial walk-in coolers and freezers, heard the plea for help and responded by sending an employee volunteer team of refrigeration specialists to assess the ministry’s needs. As a result, Kysor Panel was able to put a plan together to manufacture and install a refrigeration warehouse system that could meet their needs.

Jim Costanza, Kysor’s director of field and team operations said that helping Harvesting International is one of Kysor’s biggest charitable commitments and an unusual opportunity to make a dream come true. Costanza noted, “We didn’t want this to be a makeshift solution. We wanted to provide them with the best solution possible.”

As a result, the ministry is back on track and able to tend to the 1,000 families in the area that depend on their help… at least for now.

With the refrigeration system problem solved, the next miracle will need to come in the form of a new location for their building. Just recently, the ministry was informed that the building that they are currently in is going to have to go back to the owner. This means that a whole new building will need to be acquired with a minimum of 10,000 feet of warehouse space. If a new building isn’t found by June 1st, the ministry will be forced to start the process of closing its doors.

If the HIM Center closes its doors, thousands of needy families throughout North Texas will be affected. You can help by sending donations to HIM Center Building Fund, 560 Easy Street, Mansfield, TX 76063 or give online at himcenter.org. For property information contact HIM Center President, Gregory Dewbrew (817) 453-3663 or greg@himcenter.org.