Durham, N.C. – The Durham County Food Security Grants Program supports community food security efforts reaching our most vulnerable residents and further enhances Durham County’s social safety-net with the increased costs of food, housing, and other essentials. For the second year, Communities in Partnership (CIP) is administering this program using the Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) framework to provide grant opportunities for community organizations to further support their food systems.
Applications will open on Tuesday, November 22, 2024, and close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Find information on the Food Security Grants Program here. The application will go live at 10 a.m. on Nov. 22.
Communities in Partnership (CIP) is a Black women led, Black women founded, community accountable organization that addresses the social determinants of health through interconnected programs addressing food sovereignty, entrepreneurship and workforce development, affordable housing, and leadership development. Durham County has committed $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding for the grants to be awarded to local organizations. Grant amounts will vary based upon the needs of each individual organization’s proposed project.
Eligible organizations or projects must be a nonprofit with 501(c)3 status as determined by the IRS or is fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3; be doing work that is happening and impacting communities in Durham County; and be working to improve food security or the root causes of food insecurity.
Communities in Partnership will host an informational webinar from 2-3 p.m. on Monday, November 18, for anyone interested in applying for this opportunity. Information on how to join the session is:
Funding preferences will be given to organizations or projects that:
- Demonstrate shared decision making with the community they propose serving, especially people who are most directly affected by food insecurity.
- Are embedded/located in the community they plan to serve and have a history working in this community.
- Prioritize the leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and other marginalized communities.
- Collaborate or partner with other local organizations.
Examples of past projects include purchasing refrigeration to increase fresh produce distribution, expanding food pantries to serve at-risk populations, and establishing community gardens.
Recipients of Durham County Food Security Grants for 2023, totaling $350,000, include: Hawks Nest Healing Gardens, Healing with CAARE, Iglesia Episcopal El Buen Pastor, Iglesia La Semilla, People for Equity, Urban Community AgriNomics (UCAN), LGBTQ Center for Durham, Community Empowerment Fund, Student U, Iglesia Presbitariana, Terreiro de Arte y Cultura, Bell Yeager FWB Church, Diaper Bank of NC, Hannah's Community Kitchen, St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), Urban Ministries of Durham, Walltown Neighborhood Ministries, Durham Technical Community College Foundation, Mount Calvary United Church of Christ Food Pantry, Durham Center for Senior Life, Southside Church of Christ, and Antioch Builds Community.
For more information, visit the Communities in Partnership website here, or contact Kendrick Petty at Kendrick@cipoed.org.
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