Happy 2025! As a key supporter of Food Bank of the Rockies, I wanted to keep you apprised of progress regarding our new distribution center and our Fulfilled campaign. Below you will find a building update, an interview with long-time supporters Randy and Gwenn Hertel, and an exciting behind-the-scenes tour with our Chief Operations Officer, Kelly Green. We are grateful for your continued support and belief in our mission. We could not do this without you. Here’s to a wonderful new year where communities have enough food to thrive.
Construction Progress
Since our last update in November, the construction team has continued to move quickly. During warmer winter days they painted the exterior of the building. The roof is now complete and skylights have been installed. In addition, as weather permits, the team is installing HVAC units so the roof is ready for solar installation in the summer. Solar power will be able to meet 100% of the building’s needs! The decking for the second floor is in place, and they plan to pour the concrete floors soon. The window frames are in and all of the glass has been delivered, so windows are being filled in each day. This project is only possible with your support and belief in our mission to answer the challenge of hunger.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Kelly Green
What does better operations mean? Join our Chief Operations Officer, Kelly Green, on a video tour through the new facility and what it means for the future of hunger relief in our region. Your support is bringing this building to life, and we’re excited to share how the new facility will help us scale operations and more intentionally serve our communities.
Professional and Personal Passions Aligned for the Hertels
Long-time Food Bank of the Rockies supporters Randy and Gwenn Hertel have taken a much more personal step recently as plans for our new building went from vision to reality. Randy has been pivotal in the acquisition, entitlement, and construction of our future home at the 1,600-acre business park known as the Majestic Commercenter in Aurora. As owner and developer of the vacant land sites within the Majestic Commercenter, Majestic rarely sells land sites, but with Randy’s passionate support, the Majestic Realty team made an exception to create a purpose-built facility from the ground up for the Food Bank and our communities to fuel the region’s charitable food ecosystem for decades to come.
Randy and Gwenn have centered their lives around service to their community by addressing critical issues facing children and our communities like food insecurity. This project was the perfect opportunity for Randy to combine his professional expertise with his commitment to hunger relief. His oversight and knowledge have ensured that this project is efficiently executed, within budget, and on schedule since this is much more than just a traditional warehouse. This intentionally designed, functional-yet-beautiful space will be a hub for innovative solutions, deep collaborations, and community-oriented partnerships, all in service to answering the challenge of hunger. In addition to providing significant in-kind support for this project through Majestic Realty and Commerce Construction, Randy and Gwenn have contributed a leadership gift of $1 million to help make this project a reality.

“Gwenn and I have been blessed in so many ways. We try to live by the belief that with great need comes great responsibility, and we have the responsibility to help those in need,” shared Randy. Randy and Gwenn hope to inspire others with their generous gift, encouraging our community to join with them in our collective mission to ensure families across Colorado are able to easily access nutritious, familiar food during tough times.
There’s been so much progress! However, the interior will take time to build into a food bank that will support the region for years to come.