Raising Our Response: Q&A with Kati Umberger
Kati is the Youth & Senior Programs Manager at the Food Bank of Lincoln and is the Raising Our Response Project Team Leader.
How will volunteer workspaces be different in the new facility?
Volunteer engagement is vital to our operation. We are always exploring ways to improve the volunteer experience and space has a lot to do with that. In our current facility, volunteers are in high traffic areas. While we want volunteers to feel part of the action, we also want to ensure their work area is safe. We have designed a layout for the new facility that will allow volunteers to perform meaningful, productive work alongside Food Bank staff, without having to navigate high traffic areas unnecessarily. We will have designated spaces for administrative volunteers to complete a variety of tasks, while the volunteer workspace in the Hunger Solutions Center will be centrally located between offices and product racking, so those volunteers can easily access all elements needed for a successful experience.
One of the goals of the capital campaign is to increase access to healthy food. What features of the new facility will support that goal?
The new facility is being constructed with growth in mind. A larger space will help improve the capacity we have for accepting food, especially as this build includes an expanded refrigeration system. To the benefit of those we serve, a larger cooler and freezer space will allow us to receive and distribute increased amounts of healthy, perishable food options.
What is a unique feature of the new building that might not be visible?
What folks might not see right away are the energy efficiencies that have been incorporated. LED lighting will run throughout the facility, with many locations programmed to an energy saving mode for when activity is not detected in an area. Additionally, there are skylights positioned in the Hunger Solutions Center to increase natural lighting and offset the amount of artificial light needed for that space. We are also featuring more natural light in the office space and selected tinted glass for the large windows to decrease the amount of heat absorbed by the building.
At the current Food Bank location, operations are divided between two buildings. What will it mean to have the entire organization under the same roof?
While our team has worked to make the best of our current situation, there is no denying the excitement we share as we look forward to occupying the same building. The change in layout will have a positive impact on communication and operational efficiencies, primarily as a major timesaver, improving everything from running product inventories to receiving and loading product from trucks. We anticipate an overall boost to morale and team dynamics as a result of this upgrade.
