Feeding America announced a $1.7 million investment from Starbucks, Monday, in grants to increase the accessibility to nutritious foods among BIPOC households in communities with high food insecurity rates.
These grants will be distributed to 16 member food banks to develop localized plans to address equity in food access and implement initiatives such as mobile pantries, child and senior hunger programs, and SNAP outreach.
"Before COVID-19, people of color disproportionately experienced food insecurity and its underlying drivers, such as unemployment and poverty. As we continue to grapple with the economic effects of the pandemic, food banks are addressing disparities in order to advance racial equity in the communities they serve," said Ami McReynolds, chief equity and programs officer at Feeding America, in a statement. "Feeding America is proud to partner with Starbucks as we co-create solutions that will help BIPOC communities access enough nutritious food and other resources for an active, healthy life."
Food banks receiving the grants include:
• Atlanta Community Food Bank – Atlanta
• Capital Area Food Bank – Washington, D.C.
• Community Food Bank of Central Alabama – Birmingham, Alabama
• Community FoodBank of New Jersey – Hillside, New Jersey
• Feeding South Florida – Pembroke Park, Florida
• Feeding Tampa Bay – Tampa Bay, Florida
• Food Bank For New York City – New York
• Greater Chicago Food Depository – Chicago
• Harvest Hope Food Bank – Columbia, South Carolina
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank – Los Angeles
• Maryland Food Bank – Baltimore
• North Texas Food Bank – Plano, Texas
• Roadrunner Food Bank – Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana – New Orleans
• St. Louis Area Foodbank – Bridgeton, Missouri
• St. Mary's Food Bank – Phoenix
Related: Wright's Market Helps Fight Food Insecurity; Google Helps Communities Locate Food Support.