Burns: $279,000 in funding awarded to local food bank
Funds will help food bank with cold storage facilities
Northwest Delegation December 9, 2021 | 4:04 PM
EBENSBURG, Dec. 9 – A regional food bank has been selected to receive $279,000 in state and federal funding, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, announced today.
Food for Families, a branch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that supplies all food pantries in Cambria County, received the funding through the COVID-19 Food Bank Cold Storage Infrastructure Program.
“Food banks throughout our county have always been there when people needed them,” Burns said. “This grant would ensure that Food for Families is well-equipped to provide fresh food to pantries from Patton to Johnstown that help our neighbors when they need it the most.”
The COVID-19 Food Bank Cold Storage Infrastructure Program is a grant funded by the American Rescue Plan that allows food banks to purchase, expand, or upgrade cold storage facilities to ensure that they can deliver fresh food to struggling families. Eligible purchases include refrigerators, coolers, freezers, refrigerator trailers and cargo vans, building expansions, and more.
Last year Burns helped two area food pantries secure more than $57,000 in funding to help with equipment and other costs, and has worked closely with other food banks and pantries to collect supplies and find funding for other critical projects.