$100,000 Grant Will Help Expand Food Pantry Operations in 2021

March 24, 2021

Community

$100,000 Grant Will Help Expand Food Pantry Operations in 2021

NWA Daily

The Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry and the Razorback Food Recovery Program (RFR) just recently received a $100K grant that will allow volunteers and organizers to expand food assistance services for U of A community members and residents.

  • Since the onset of the pandemic, the food pantry staff and volunteers have seen a huge uptick in monthly clients, forcing them to adapt to new restrictions and regulations. “On average, pre-COVID, (we were) helping about 750 household members a month... over the summer we were feeding on average between 1300 to 1400 people," said Food Drives Coordinator Briana Roden.
  • So it's safe to say the grant will be put to good use - part of it will be used to recruit AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America members to work in the pantry and the food recovery program. The additional funds will be invested in transportation and storage equipment.
  • The RFR launched a repackaging program in March 2020 that was put on halt, like many things, by the pandemic. Re-established during the 2020-21 school year, the repackaging program uses large portions of food recovered and divides it up into meals for families around the community.
  • "The grant is just going to help us grow even further and I’m just really excited about where things are planned. And in a year or two, I think we got some pretty big things on the plate,” said McCoy. -The Arkansas Traveler

You can read the full story HERE

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