Clark County Food Bank President Alan Hamilton announced Wednesday he will leave the nonprofit this fall.
His retirement comes after 12 years at the food bank. During Hamilton’s tenure, Clark County Food Bank grew to manage 8 million pounds of food each year, according to a news release from the organization.
“I think the thing that has really been most rewarding for me isn’t just the new programs, new classes, new food,” said Hamilton, 63. “It’s really seeing this community rise up to serve and help people in need, and I got a front row seat to that.”
Hamilton said he’s proud of helping launch the food bank’s new Vision Center, a warehouse and community center anticipated to open in August.
Construction on the Vision Center began in November 2022. It’s next to Clark County Food Bank’s current facility at 6502 N.E. 47th Ave., which was built in 2012.
The Vision Center will allow the food bank to process more donations and create access to cultural and dietary-specific food for Clark County residents. The 13,000-square-foot building will be able to distribute 27,000 pounds of food a month and will also provide nutrition and cooking classes, health care services and free lunch.
“I’m thrilled, especially because it’ll give us the chance to provide a very high-dignity client experience to get food. It’ll also give us the opportunity to collect and access new food sources in the warehouse part,” Hamilton said. “Then, I think most importantly, it’ll give us a chance to really begin to address some of the root causes of hunger and provide some permanent solutions that families facing hunger experience.”
Clark County Food Bank Board Chairman Elson Strahan said he deeply appreciated Hamilton’s dedication.
“Alan Hamilton’s leadership guided the tremendous growth and development of CCFB over the years, in spite of the challenges of COVID and the unfortunate continued growth of food insecurity in our community,” Strahan said in a news release.
Hamilton said he will work with the nonprofit’s board of directors on a national search for his successor.
“I’m staying in this community. I love this community,” Hamilton said. “I will always be available to resource and help the food bank. It means so much to me.”
