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Good Shepherd Food Bank / Blog / Community Redistribution Fund / Community Redistribution Fund is Open for Applications

Community Redistribution Fund is Open for Applications

Community Redistribution Fund is Open for Applications

Good Shepherd Food Bank is pleased to announce the third round of the Community Redistribution Fund. The fund’s purpose is to support grantees’ efforts to source and distribute culturally important foods to community members in need. This grant opportunity is for organizations working closely and primarily with BIPOC (Black and Indigenous people and People of Color) and submissions are now being accepted.

“Good Shepherd Food Bank recognizes that poverty and food insecurity disproportionately impact people of color. As the largest hunger-relief organization in the state, we are committed to redistributing resources directly to organizations and coalitions,” stated Jessica Gildea, program manager for Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Youth and Families Initiatives program. “These organizations are committed to meeting the needs of immigrants, refugees, Indigenous communities, and communities of color and need support.”

The Community Redistribution Fund’s long-term goal is to transfer decision-making power to the grantees using a community-led grant-making model. Previous grantees are encouraged to apply. Community-led organizations in Maine, led by and primarily serving people of color, and efforts that are not currently Good Shepherd Food Bank partners will receive priority.

Use of grant funds can include but is not limited to: the purchase of food for direct distributions or meal preparation; gift cards/credits to culturally important markets for community members; food sovereignty projects; farming/agriculture projects; transportation; storage; and distribution costs. Up to 10% of grant funds can cover general operating expenses.

Previous grantees include:

  • United Youth Empowerment Services & Masjid Al Salaam – Lewiston. Funds support a new food pantry.
  • Mano en Mano – Downeast Maine. Funds support the distribution of culturally-specific food boxes for families that live year-round in the region and for single migrant workers who were arriving in May for blueberries and seafood processing.
  • Micmac Farms, covering Micmac communities in Aroostook County. Funds support the distribution of Food Sovereignty boxes, filled with foods produced by Native American producers, to families within the Aroostook Band of Micmacs.

Grassroots, community-led organizations and coalitions, fiscally-sponsored, and collaborative projects are encouraged to apply. Note – individuals are not eligible to receive grant funds. For more details on the application process and to apply, please visit www.feedingmaine.com/crf.