(Worcester, MA – October 11, 2022) Greater Worcester Community Foundation announced the first round of grant awardees for GWCF-sponsored Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Food Security funding. To date, the Foundation has distributed over $1.6 million Federal Grant Dollars, which are administered in the State by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Last year, the Foundation was asked by the Commonwealth to disperse federal grant dollars – a new partnership for the Foundation. Over the last two years, the Foundation has dispersed State of Massachusetts funds to support undocumented immigrants; that program’s success became the catalyst for the Foundation’s CDBG partnership.
To date, $1.6 has been awarded to 17 grantees serving Worcester County. Grant money was exclusively awarded for supplies and equipment to build up the capacity of food security organizations to respond to increased demand as a result of the pandemic, population growth, and the recession. With the first grantees, that translates into 14 vehicles, 2 forklifts, and a remarkable amount of food storage and food distribution supplies and equipment. The Foundation has an additional $600,000 available to disperse in the coming months.
“Food pantries and distribution programs are essential to addressing food insecurity in Worcester County. Weare pleased to be able to strengthen the capacity of those organizations to do their work,” said Tim Johnstone GWCF Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. “Importantly, the Foundation also works with these and other partners to address the root causes of food insecurity. Far too many people in our community experience hunger every day – children, seniors, and working families among them – and that is unacceptable, particularly in a community as vibrant as this one.”
Those organizations receiving funds are:
| 2Gether We Eat | Worcester | $275,000.00 |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester | Worcester | $101,500.00 |
| Community Harvest Project | North Grafton | $75,000.00 |
| Dismas House of Massachusetts | Worcester | $106,000.00 |
| El Buen Samaritano Food Program | Worcester | $84,500.00 |
| Friendly House | Worcester | $73,500.00 |
| Living in Freedom Together | Worcester | $112,500.00 |
| Net of Compassion | Worcester | $75,500.00 |
| Pernet Family Health Services | Worcester | $95,000.00 |
| Provision Ministry | Westborough | $5,000.00 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | $160,000.00 |
| Regional Environmental Council | Worcester | $106,500.00 |
| Rock of Salvation | Worcester | $14,500.00 |
| Southeast Asian Coalition of Central MA | Worcester | $101,000.00 |
| The Wellstrom | Southbridge | $23,250.00 |
| Tri-Valley Inc. | Dudley | $145,000.00 |
| Yes We Care | Worcester | $91,000.00 |