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Community Redistribution Fund Announces 2022 Grantees

Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Community Table is proud to announce the 2022 Community Redistribution Fund grantees. As part of its focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, the Food Bank created a Community Redistribution Fund aimed at breaking down barriers and increasing access to culturally appropriate foods for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous people and People of Color), immigrant, and refugee communities throughout Maine. According to the Ending Hunger in Maine by 2030 Task Force Report, 28 percent of households headed by people of color are food insecure, and 40 percent of households headed by Black Mainers are food insecure.

Community Redistribution Fund 2022 Snapshot - featuring bar and pie charts relating to the fund distribution

2022 Community Redistribution Fund Grantees
Grants were awarded in three categories:

Systemic Impact
To provide funding for partnerships, programs, and projects that seek to address systemic, food-related issues that have a disproportionate impact on communities of color
• Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition
• Presente Maine
• Cultivating Community
• Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective
• Somali Bantu Community Association

Community Impact
To provide funding for partnerships, programs, and projects that seek to break down barriers and increase access to culturally important foods in culturally responsive ways
• Zone 6 Farms
• Maine Association of New Americans
• Westbrook School Department
• Maine Black Community Development
• Greater Portland Family Promise
• Ummah Farm Enterprise
• South Portland School Department
• Gateway Community Service Maine
• Afghan Community of Maine
• New England Arab American Organization (NEAAO)
• Mawita’nej Epij’ij / Wabanaki Reach
• Hand in Hand / Mano en Mano
• Mi’kmaq Nation
• Sustainable Livelihoods Relief Organization (SLRO)
• Khmer Maine
• Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services
• A.C.T Heaven First Church
• New Roots Cooperative Farm
• Mawiomi Garden
• Multilingual & Multicultural Center, Portland Public Schools
• In Her Presence
• Angolan Community of Maine
• AK Health and Social Services
• Azerbaijan Society of Maine
• South Sudanese Group of Friends
• St. Anne’s Penobscot Food Pantry
• Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Masjid
• Rise and Shine Youth Retreat
• YWCA Central Maine

Grassroots Impact
To provide funding for grassroots organizations, pilot and nontraditional programs that seek to address emergent needs of BIPOC communities
• Zambian Community of Maine
• Intercultural Community Center
• Capital Area New Mainers Project
• Multicultural Community & Support Services
• Living With Peace International
• Health Corner
• Tree Street Youth

In 2020, Good Shepherd Food Bank established the Community Redistribution Fund to support organizations’ efforts to increase access to culturally important foods to community members in need. The fund is intended for organizations working closely and primarily with BIPOC (Black and Indigenous people and People of Color), immigrant, and refugee communities.

Organizations who fit the criteria for eligibility could apply for grant funds to help support equitable food access for BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities. Priority was given to organizations that were not part of the Food Bank’s network and organizations that were led by and serving Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.

Use of grant funds could include but was not limited to: Purchase of food for direct distribution or meal preparation; gift cards/credits to culturally specific markets for community members; food sovereignty projects; farming/agriculture projects; transportation costs. Up to 20% of grant funds could be used for general operating expenses.

The Community Redistribution Fund and the grants made through the program are funded by Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Campaign to End Hunger. Key priorities of the campaign include building the capacity of partners and communities to strengthen food security and investing in communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by hunger.

For more information, please visit www.feedingmaine.org/crf.