Grant helps Westmoreland Food Bank add refrigerated van

The Westmoreland County Food Bank is adding a van equipped with a refrigeration unit to its fleet, thanks to a grant from the Walmart Foundation.

The $75,000 grant will cover the cost of the cargo van, which will be unveiled to visiting officials and will be available for service Wednesday.

According to Jennifer Miller, director of development at the food bank, the new van will be used to pick up smaller quantities of donated, perishable food.

“It will cut back on double trips (with an existing non-refrigerated van) or taking a larger truck out, which is more costly,” Miller explained.

Two volunteers will operate the van.

Last year, the food bank provided more than 9 million pounds of food to 31,000 recipients in the county.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6622, jhimler@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jhimler_news.