Blair and Centre Counties Secure State Grants to Combat Rising Local Hunger

A critical injection of state funding is heading to Central Pennsylvania, as Blair and Centre counties are among recipients of $4.1M in DEP food recovery grants designed to fight hunger.

The announcement from the Department of Environmental Protection comes as a lifeline for non-profits on the front lines of a worsening local food crisis.

This funding, part of the statewide Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program, targets the very tools local organizations need to rescue and distribute food that would otherwise end up in landfills.

The timing could not be more urgent.

Recent reports paint a grim picture of escalating need in our communities.

In Blair County, a staggering one in seven residents is considered food insecure, with the child food insecurity rate reaching a heartbreaking 19.3%.

The problem is even more acute within communities of color, where food insecurity rates climb to 33% for Black residents and 28% for Hispanic residents.

Meanwhile, Centre County has seen a dramatic 12.8% surge in food insecurity in recent years, a trend that has strained local resources and left more families vulnerable.

Local organizations, including the Central PA Food Bank, the Tyrone food bank, and Faith Centre Inc. in Bellefonte, are confirmed beneficiaries of this crucial support.

The grants, which could be as much as $50,000 per nonprofit, will empower these groups to purchase essential equipment like refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerated transport vehicles.

This is a direct investment in logistics and hope, ensuring that fresh, wholesome food reaches dinner tables instead of becoming waste.

The state program recognizes a harsh reality: an estimated 1.6 million tons of food is thrown away each year in Pennsylvania, making it the largest single component of the waste stream.

By bridging the gap between surplus food and those in need, these grants offer a practical solution to two interconnected problems: hunger and environmental waste.

This state-level action provides much-needed reinforcement for local heroes fighting to ensure no neighbor goes hungry.

FAQ: Understanding the Food Recovery Grants

What is the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program?

It is a program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that provides funding to nonprofits like food banks to help them acquire equipment, such as vehicles and refrigerators, needed to recover and distribute surplus food.

Why are these grants important for Blair and Centre counties?

Food insecurity has been sharply rising in both counties. This funding helps local food pantries expand their capacity to rescue fresh food from retailers and farms, directly addressing the increased demand for food assistance in the community.