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Rising costs and below average incomes leave many in the area struggling with essential needs.
One source of aid comes in the form of food banks and soup kitchens. Thanks to a grant program through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the organizations providing those services could get a little help themselves.
On Tuesday, the state announced a second round of Emergency Food Assistance Program Reach and Resiliency Grants. Through the program, food banks and soup kitchens can apply for a share of $2.5 million in funding.
The first round of funding provided $1.6 million to 39 organizations statewide, none of which operate in Warren County. This round of funding will prioritize applicants that did not receive funds already, according to information published in the Oct. 14 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
More than a dozen food banks operate across Warren County, many in conjunction with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. Additionally, free community meals are available through many local churches.
The need in the county is widespread. More than 12 percent of the population lives in poverty, a rate above both the state and national average of approximately 11 percent. Per capita income is approximately $30,000, a figure also below the state and national averages of nearly $40,000.
“No one should go hungry in a state with the wealth and bounty we have in Pennsylvania,” state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said in a release. “But far too often families do not know where their next meal is coming from and they need our help. Expanding the capacity of local organizations to supply fresh, healthy food to families in need is just one part of a broad Shapiro Administration strategy to work toward a healthier, more food-secure Pennsylvania.”
Organizations may apply for grants through the state Department of Community and Economic Development’s single application portal at www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/Login.aspx. Full grant guidelines can be found in the Oct. 14 Pennsylvania Bulletin at www.pacodeandbulletin.gov.
Costs eligible for grant funding include:
Onboarding new partners and assisting with necessary costs to establish a new distribution site. Counties or food banks, or both, with whom the Department has direct contracts may partner with charitable nonprofit organizations who do not currently distribute TEFAP but have been determined by the county or food bank, or both, to have the ability and capacity to aid with the further distribution of TEFAP into underserved areas.
Investments in cold-storage infrastructure. Examples of this infrastructure may include items such as industrial-sized refrigerators or freezers, or both, walk-in refrigerators or freezers, or both, and refrigerated or non-refrigerated box trucks. Installation and shipping costs will also be eligible for support.
Building renovations for existing and newly acquired spaces.
Warehouse equipment. This may include items such as non-refrigerated box trucks, pallet jacks, dollies, building shelving and racking, computers, inventory tracking software and the like. This may also include the cost of vehicles to conduct mobile distributions of TEFAP food.
Materials necessary for the storage, transportation and distribution of TEFAP foods and costs of materials associated with publicizing the TEFAP Program and the distributions of TEFAP foods.