Manna Food Center, Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the Montgomery County Food Council, in collaboration with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, have awarded $67,465 in capacity-and infrastructure-building Community Food Rescue (CFR) mini-grants to nine community-based nonprofit organizations involved in food recovery and food security efforts. Community Food Rescue is a Manna Food Center program.
The mini-grants support the recommendations of the County’s Food Security Plan, which set forth a vision for Montgomery County in which all people always have access to safe, enough, nutritious food, with dignity. The organizations selected to receive grants will use the funding for specific efforts designed to increase the capacity and/or infrastructure for food recovery and food security in the community. The funded projects must also increase the efficiency and effectiveness of efforts to reduce food insecurity in the county using partnerships and collaborations.
The nonprofit organizations receiving CFR mini-grants are AfriThrive, Clopper Mill Elementary School, First Alliance Church, Food and Friends, Kings and Priests Court, Mid County United Ministries, Rainbow Community Development Center, Small Things Matter, and The UpCounty Hub.
"We know that the pandemic exacerbated the problem of food insecurity in our community and that the challenges remain for many of our residents," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "I am pleased to see the wide range of organizations that are receiving grant funding to help further the important work they do in helping our neighbors feed their families."
The CFR mini-grants are funded by DHHS, and the program was enhanced by matching funds from the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Food for Montgomery Fund. The mini-grants are administered by DHHS in coordination with the Montgomery County Food Council. A Montgomery County Food Council and DHHS grants-evaluation team reviewed and evaluated the grant applications.
“On behalf of all the donors to the Food for Montgomery Fund, we are proud to join in supporting the CFR mini-grants,” said Anna Hargrave, executive director for Montgomery County at the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are certain these grants will provide a tremendous boost to the food security work of these dedicated community partners.”
Visit the food rescue website for more information about the grant awards.
