County Offers Mini-Grants for Food Security Organizations; Applications Due September 3

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 1, 2019

Community organizations involved with food security issues are urged to apply for mini grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to improve capacity and infrastructure of the local food system and all aspects of food security or to support inventive and collaborative approaches to reducing food insecurity.  Tax-exempt organizations applying for the mini grants can use the funding to improve direct service or assistance to vulnerable populations. Prior year grants enabled organizations to provide meal preparation, improve transportation, distribution and/or delivery, or expand storage systems through purchases of goods and services such as trucks, freezers, and to build capacity conducting staff development, hiring additional staff, engaging professional consultants or partnering and sharing resources with other organizations. The funding may also be used for projects involved in the recovery of food that is good to eat but otherwise would be wasted.  The County’s vision for food security is a community where all residents have access to safe, sufficient, nutritious food. 

Funding for the grant program is included in the FY20 operating budget for the County’s Department of Health and Human Services.  Organizations can apply independently or in collaboration with other groups.  This mini-grants program will amplify efforts underway by Community Food Rescue (CFR), a program of Manna Food Center, who will be distributing the grants.

The application portal opens August 1.  A pre-application technical assistance conference will be held on Wednesday, August 14th at 10:30 a.m. at 401 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Applications are due by close of business on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.  Information and an online application are available at https://bit.ly/2mZI76e .  Questions can be directed to Diana Tato-Niktash at 240-777-3404 or by email to [email protected]. 

 

 

 

  

Release ID: 19-268
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 240-777-6534