The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announces new grant availability for non-profit organizations helping to fight hunger in Pennsylvania.
Grants up to $50,000 are available to non-profit organizations who partner with food retailers/wholesalers to recover safe and wholesome foods and then make that food available to the public through the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant program.
The Food Recovery Infrastructure Grants can be awarded to reimburse the cost of equipment like refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated and non-refrigerated vehicles, stoves, and microwaves to store, transport, or prepare the recovered safe, wholesome foods to ensure that the food can be redistributed to the public.
Special consideration will be given to applicants with projects that serve Environmental Justice areas.
In addition to helping feed Pennsylvanians in need, keeping food waste out of landfills also helps fight climate change. Organic waste like food breaks down into methane, a potent greenhouse gas – so every potato, every stalk of broccoli, every apple, every tomato that doesn’t go to a landfill is helping to fight climate change in Pennsylvania.
Applications for the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant will be accepted beginning on Oct.12. Interested applicants must have a pre-application meeting with their local DEP Regional Recycling Coordinator prior to submitting their applications.
Grant applications must be submitted through the Electronic Single Application web site at https://grants.pa.gov/.
Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 28 to be eligible for funding.