Barnstable County Awarded $248,084 State Grant to Strengthen Food Rescue and Access on Cape Cod
Barnstable County, Massachusetts, was awarded a $248,084 state grant on October 26 to help get more food to Cape Cod residents. The funding comes through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection's Sustainable Materials Recovery Program, for a project titled "Cape Cod Regional Organics Capacity and Infrastructure Expansion," led by Cape Cod Cooperative Extension with community partners, to expand the storage and transportation needed to keep usable food from going to waste.
The county noted that when a business has surplus food to donate, a community organization needs somewhere to store it and a way to pick it up while it is still safe to eat; without enough refrigeration or reliable transportation, even a welcome donation can be difficult to accept. The grant will fund a refrigerated van, freezer and storage equipment, and tools to track donations, along with outreach and training to help food donors and recipient organizations work together. "There are people working every day to get food to their neighbors, and businesses willing to donate it," said Andrea Scarpellini, food access coordinator for Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. "Having a reliable vehicle, enough freezer space, and a way to coordinate donations can make a real difference in what those partnerships can accomplish."
Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners Chair Mark Forest announced the award at the Cape Cod Hunger Summit on Monday, October 26. "Food insecurity is a serious challenge on Cape Cod, and addressing it requires more than good intentions," Forest said. "This investment will help build the infrastructure needed to get more food where it belongs, into the hands of people who need it." The summit convened representatives from food assistance organizations, health care, government, schools, agriculture and other community groups to review regional data, identify gaps in food access and explore practical solutions.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 休斯顿食物银行内志愿者正在打包食物（资料图）。图片：美国农业部，公共领域，取自维基共享资源。
