The 28,000-square-foot addition triples the amount of storage space for the organization. It also includes an expanded volunteer area, demonstration kitchen, bulk food sorting room, office space and a shopping area for partner agencies, the food bank said.

In the past three to four years, the food bank has seen a more than 50 percent increase in demand, spokesman Brad Peterson said. For fiscal year 2009-10, the organization distributed 16 million pounds of food, and last year the amount grew to 22 million pounds, he said.

Funding for the expansion was provided by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Endowment Fund, the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation, Giant Food Stores, The Hershey Co., the Josiah W. and Bessie H. Kline Foundation Inc., Nationwide Insurance Foundation and through contributions from individual donors, the food bank said.

Architects on the project were Willigerod & MacAvoy Architects and the general contractor was JEM Group, both based in Harrisburg.

Founded in 1982, the Lower Paxton Township-based food bank provides food for 27 counties in the state, working with 700 partner agencies to feed almost 40,000 people each week.