The Cape Cod Foundation received a $1,362,895 Community Development Block Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through its Department of Housing and Community Development to support food access and security across Cape Cod.
In its first wave, the Foundation has allocated a total of $378,688 to three nonprofits who meet the eligibility requirements: Cape Kid Meals, Family Pantry of Cape Cod and South Shore Community Action Council. The funding will enable the sustainability, creation, and expansion of programs and services that respond to the increased demand for food assistance because of the pandemic.
Resources from these initial grants will support the largest food pantry on Cape Cod which serves multiple communities and two other nonprofits which provide nutritious meals for children in-school and on the weekends, in childcare programs, and attending summer camps throughout the Cape. It will also support salaries for critical staff and capital expenses, such as the purchase of equipment and appliances for food distribution centers and refrigerated trucks with food warming capability for the safe transport of prepared food to distribution points.
“These grant recipients have demonstrated impact across the region, the capacity to expand outreach, and the ability to meet eligibility and reporting requirements,” said Foundation President and CEO Kristin O’Malley.
She added that all CDBG-funded programs must provide assistance to clients of which at least 51 percent are low- or moderate-income, which means household income does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income.
The Cape Cod Foundation selected the Community Development Partnership of Eastham as a sub-contractor on the grant. CDP brings experience and expertise managing Community Development Block Grants and will assist with managing the reporting required by sub-grantees.
Prior to receiving this Community Development Block Grant, the Foundation had raised more than $3.7 million and allocated over $3 million through its Strategic Emergency Response Fund, established in March 2020 to build and deploy resources for pandemic relief.
“In all our grantmaking, we leverage resources by working with a large network of funders, business partners, nonprofit executives, and other community leaders to identify needs, available and earmarked resources, and effective programs needing support,” O’Malley said. “This community knowledge allows us to strategically direct public and private dollars to meet critical needs without duplicating the efforts of other constituencies.”
O’Malley said the Foundation will announce the second wave of Community Development Block Grants later this summer. All grant funds must be expended by March 31, 2023.
More information at www.capecodfoundation.org
