Grants Awarded to Organizations Fighting Food Insecurity

Thirteen organizations working to prevent food insecurity in the area received a total of $350,000 in grants from The Community Foundation of Frederick County, including Blessings in a Backpack.

According to the United Way of Frederick County’s 2023 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report — which provides statistics about people who work but struggle to afford basic living expenses — 36% of Frederick County households cannot afford necessities including food.

The report said that since the pandemic, the area has seen “sustained high levels of food insufficiency.”

In Frederick County, over 19,000 residents participate in Maryland’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to nonprofit Maryland Hunger Solutions.

About 6,000 people per year receive Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance, which provides health referrals and food assistance to mothers and young children.

Multiple organizations that provide food assistance to youth received grants from the Community Foundation, including Blessings in a Backpack Frederick Chapter.

The nonprofit received $75,000 to support its weekend food program for youth, which the chapter’s managing director, Angela Abrishami, said provides food to about 4,300 children annually.

Blessings in a Backpack primarily provides resources to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, and may not have access to healthy, nourishing foods while away from school, Abrishami said. The organization plans to use its grant to feed about 500 children per week.

“Our vision is that every child in Frederick has the nourishment to learn and grow,” she said. “Every little bit helps.”

Excerpt taken from a story by By Shifra Dayak at fredericknewspost.com.