Shapiro Administration Announces New Grant Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Prevent Food Waste – Feb 28

Posted by PA Department of Environmental Protection on October 29, 2024

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley joined the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to announce 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 are eligible for grants up to $50,000 through the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant program.

“Preserving fresh food and preventing it from going landfills is vital to fighting hunger in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley, speaking at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “The Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant helps put food where it belongs – in people, not in landfills.”

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. Grants up to $50,000 are available per applicant. 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,” said Shirley.

Applications for the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant will be accepted beginning on October 12, 2024. 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. Applications must be received by February 28, 2025 by 11:59PM, to be eligible for funding.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s website, or follow DEP on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or LinkedIn.