Houston Food Bank Breaks Ground on Landmark “CORE” Facility in Northwest Houston
By Houston Food Bank
September 2, 2026
Transformational 310,000 square-foot expansion facility on 52 acres donated by Chevron will double distribution capacity, enhance emergency response, and deliver wraparound community services across 18 counties – Sep 1, 2026
HOUSTON … Today Houston Food Bank – joined by civic leaders, community advocates, and philanthropic and corporate partners – officially broke ground on CORE by Houston Food Bank, a landmark project by the nation’s largest Feeding America food bank by distribution. Located at TX-249 and Ella Blvd. on a 52-acre land parcel generously donated by Chevron valued at $10 million, the facility will represent the largest strategic expansion in the food bank’s history.
Spanning approximately 310,000 square feet, CORE is designed to address continued increase in food insecurity coupled with our region’s population growth. It will also strengthen the food bank’s ability to meet sudden demand following disasters. The new campus will significantly boost cold storage capacity, increase capacity to engage volunteers, and enhance logistical capabilities across the organization’s 18-county service area, which supports more than one million neighbors annually.
In addition to traditional food assistance, CORE will bring together a network of trusted community partners including a federally qualified health center and a full-service recreational facility as well as 10-12 additional nonprofit partners to provide essential services in one convenient location. The facility will feature a community lobby with a food hall showcasing local vendors, along with a commercial kitchen and conference center designed to support collaboration, connection and community engagement.
Partners currently include HOPE Clinic, YMCA Houston, United Way Greater Houston, 8 Million Stories, Family Houston, Fit Houston, Champion’s Club by Lakewood Church, L.I.F.E. Houston, Lone Star Legal Aid, Northwest Assistance Ministries, Tejano Center, Texas A&M AgriLife, and UTHealth School of Dentistry.
“CORE represents a fundamental evolution in how we serve Southeast Texas,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “Food distribution remains our core pillar, but true health and stability require addressing the root causes of hunger. Thanks to the extraordinary support from Houston’s philanthropic community, CORE gives us the physical scale and strategic presence in Northwest Houston to deliver not just food, but opportunity, resilience and hope.”
The strategic selection of the Northwest Houston site addresses acute neighborhood-level needs while optimizing logistics along major transportation corridors. Construction is slated to proceed in structured phases, with initial operational capacity anticipated to launch in 2028.
Chevron’s donation of 52 acres builds on a nearly two-decade partnership with Houston Food Bank. Since 2008, Chevron has invested financial resources, strategic support and thousands of employee volunteer hours to support hunger relief efforts across Greater Houston.
“Chevron is proud to deepen our partnership with Houston Food Bank through this land donation,” says Jim Gable, president, Chevron Technology Ventures and vice president, Innovation. “Houston is our home, and we believe that strong communities begin with meeting fundamental human needs. CORE will help turn this site into a hub for nutrition, health and economic development, supporting a more resilient future for thousands of local families.”
This historic expansion is made possible through the extraordinary leadership of Houston’s philanthropic community including transformational support from champions such as Sarofim Foundation, Kinder Foundation®, and Laura and John Arnold. These gifts as well as those from other very generous supporters have ensured that no money will be diverted from Houston Food Bank’s operational budget, allowing every operational dollar to remain where it matters most: directly feeding neighbors in need across Southeast Texas.
“Since 2008, Kinder Foundation has supported the work that Houston Food Bank does to improve the quality of life for all Houstonians,” says Nancy Kinder, president and CEO, Kinder Foundation. “This community-centered project is a transformative next step in that work, and we’re honored to help bring it to life alongside other committed partners.”
CORE by Houston Food Bank marks the nonprofit organization’s commitment to the community to meet needs and build futures for our neighbors and community partners.
For more information on Houston Food Bank and its programs, please visit HoustonFoodBank.org.
CORE By Houston Food Bank – Project at a Glance
- Location: 2121 W. Mt Houston (TX-249 & Ella Blvd), Houston 77038
- Facility Footprint: ~310,000 sq.-ft. distribution warehouse and community resource center
- Land Donation: 52 acres donated by Chevron (valued at $10 Million)
- Service Reach: 18 counties in Southeast Texas through 1,600+ community partner agencies
- Key Features: Expanded cold storage, increased volunteer capacity, emergency response logistics, on-site health resources, and shared service suites
ABOUT HOUSTON FOOD BANK
Since 1982, Houston Food Bank has worked to provide food for better lives across Houston and southeast Texas. Through a network of 1,600 community partners – including food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, and social service organizations – we help provide access to more than 143 million nutritious meals annually across 18 counties. As a trusted resource during times of hardship and natural disaster, we are committed to closing the hunger gap by prioritizing healthy foods and fresh produce while connecting individuals and families to resources that support long-term stability. In partnership with the community, we advocate for policies and programs that expand food access and address the root causes of hunger through nutrition education, health management, and assistance with state-funded benefits. We play an important role in the goal towards zero waste by rescuing and preventing valuable resources from being discarded by growers and food producers and by recycling and composting waste at our facilities. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County, and Brazos Valley. We are a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, and have earned Charity Navigator’s four-star rating for 14 consecutive years.
