Ciresi announces $28K grant to help fight hunger and prevent food waste at Open Door Ministry
Rep. Joseph Ciresi May 27, 2020 | 2:43 PM
ROYERSFORD, May 27 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, today announced that a $28,915 grant has been awarded to Royersford’s Open Door Ministry.
Open Door Ministry provides human services and support, including a weekly food pantry, for the Spring-Ford area of Montgomery County.
"Grants like this help our food banks keep their promise to always be there for those in need,” Ciresi said. “With the increases in numbers at our local food banks and pantries during this time, we must make sure we’re doing everything we can to help feed our neighbors and loved ones. These grants will help acquire refrigeration equipment to keep the shelf life of foods lasting longer, and ultimately providing more food to the public. I am happy to see this money being used to help some of our most vulnerable."
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased demand on charitable food systems. The Wolf administration will be awarding more than $9 million to nonprofit entities for projects to fight hunger and prevent food waste. The awards come from the expanded Food Recovery Infrastructure grant program announced in April. This program ensures food banks are adequately supplied to meet the needs of Pennsylvania residents.
The full list of recipients is available here.
Unused or unsold food can be dangerous for the environment. It ends up in landfills, where it can biodegrade and release greenhouse gases like methane. The EPA estimates that in 2015 (the last year when information was available), more than 30 million tons of food waste went into landfills nationwide.
Grant program funding was made available for Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations for the proper management and operation of food waste reduction pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988, Act 101.
More information is available by contacting Ciresi’s office at 484- 200-8265.
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