Ryan Pesch walked briskly down Washington Avenue on the afternoon of Nov. 27, a yellow coffee cup in hand. Unlocking the doors of Manna Food Co-op's future home, his footsteps echoed through the empty, decades-old building. Neon-colored tape on the floors marked where a community kitchen, hydroponics setup, and shelving would eventually take shape.
Pesch navigated the 6,000-square-foot space, describing the plans aloud. "This is our third location; I've been involved in all three, but this one is more exciting because it's a cool location," said Pesch, the co-op's treasurer.
After purchasing the former Beugs' ACE Hardware building in late summer, Pesch began spearheading a capital campaign in September. The effort aims to raise $300,000 and add 100 new memberships by year's end. So far, the co-op has raised $56,000 and gained 20 new members.
One key partnership emerging from the project is with the Boys and Girls Club, focusing on hydroponic farming. In the future produce section near the entrance, a 9-by-9-foot wall of leafy greens will grow toward the building's 14.5-foot ceiling, maintained by the club.
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