Whole Foods Market Donates Electric Refrigerated Van to 6 Stones New Hope Center Food Pantry

Whole Foods Market has delivered a new electric refrigerated van to 6 Stones, equipping the nonprofit to transport food for the New Hope Center, a pantry that serves approximately 60,000 neighbors each year. The vehicle addresses a step in the food access chain that often goes unnoticed: the journey between the point of food pickup and the pantry itself.

The implications reach beyond a single donation. Before food reaches pantry shelves, 6 Stones staff and volunteers must collect and transport it, and refrigerated capacity determines whether perishable items arrive in condition to be distributed. By supplying that capacity, Whole Foods Market is investing in the behind-the-scenes logistics that connect available food resources with households facing difficult seasons, when access to fresh, healthy food carries direct consequences for families.

Lori Krouskos, Chief Development Officer at 6 Stones, framed the gift as infrastructure for daily operations rather than a one-time gesture. "Whole Foods Market's generosity supports the everyday work of getting food to our New Hope Center," Krouskos said. "Partnerships like this do more than provide transportation; they bridge the gap between generosity and real impact, ensuring no family in our community goes hungry." The choice of an electric vehicle also points to a practical, lower-emission approach to the repeated pickups the pantry depends on.

The announcement matters because food pantries increasingly rely on reliable transportation to keep fresh food moving, and a breakdown in that link can mean lost donations and empty shelves. A dedicated refrigerated van gives the New Hope Center a more dependable means of collecting food, which in turn supports the consistency neighbors need when planning meals for their households. Photographs of the delivery are available through See Photos.

Community members have two routes to participate in the pantry's work. Those who want to serve alongside others can explore current roles through Volunteer at New Hope Center, while financial contributions sustain the broader effort of connecting neighbors with food and practical pathways of hope via Donate to New Hope Center. Volunteers help coordinate pickups, transportation, and pantry operations, the same functions the new van supports.

6 Stones described the donation as an example of what shared community action can accomplish, thanking Whole Foods Market for investing in food transportation and for joining a network in which neighbors, businesses, volunteers, and donors each play a meaningful role. The organization's mission centers on sharing hope through community mobilization, bringing churches, businesses, schools, civic leaders, and residents together around practical action and lasting relationships.