MOUNT VERNON — The Food for the Hungry Board of Directors has announced a summer grant program for churches and non-profit organizations in an effort to provide additional food assistance when need may be greater for families with children home from school.
“We recognize all the food pantries in Knox County see an increase in requests during the summer months while children are on break. This summer grant program will provide some funding to those who have been filling the need and to those who are gearing up for the start of the school year,” said Samantha Scoles, FFTH president.
Organizations may request up to $2,000 for programs that will provide food distribution through Oct. 1. Groups that provide assistance outside the traditional Mid-Ohio Food Bank income guidelines are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications can be filled out by visiting www.foodforthehungrycares.org.
The application process opens on Monday, July 15, at 5 p.m., and ends at noon on Monday, July 29. Awards will be announced no later than Monday, Aug. 5.
“What a blessing it is to be able to offer summer grants for the second year,” said Lisa Mazzari, FFTH drive coordinator. “Our community has made this possible by the generosity shown once again in the 2018 Food For The Hungry drive. This is not only an opportunity to show our family and friends that we care during the holiday season, but all year long. We are honored to have an opportunity to assist organizations who are standing in the gap of food insecurity in Knox County in so many unique ways.”
The 2018 Food for the Hungry campaign raised $281,005.19 and more than 26 truckloads of food. The Salvation Army and Interchurch Social Services are each allocated 42 percent of the campaign goal each year. Additional funds allocated from the 2018 drive include:
- Over $30,000 in grants were awarded during the Dec. 8, 2018 live broadcast;
- A $10,000 grant to The Salvation Army to help make necessary upgrades to the dock area to make food delivery a much easier process; and
- A $1,620 grant to Interchurch Social Services to cover the 2019 costs of rent and utilities for the agency’s newest pantry in Bladensburg.
“Because Knox County continues to invest in Food For The Hungry, we are able to reinvest the donations we receive above and beyond our goal to contribute to other food-based initiatives,” said Scoles. “These additional funds make it possible for us to also support projects like the Salvation Army’s dock repair and Interchurch’s Bladensburg panty and store.”
For more information on the grant application process, contact Food for the Hungry Coordinator Lisa Mazzari at 740-481-2444.
