The Nevada County Board of Supervisors yesterday approved two resolutions allocating $ 465,000 to Interfaith Food Ministry and $ 350,000 to Gold County Senior Services from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support the distribution of food to seniors in low income.
Grant funding will expand Gold Country Senior Services’ meal-in-home program to an additional 98 seniors currently on the waiting list, increase from one meal to two meals per day for 600 low-income seniors, and provide Stable Meals for Seniors During Public Safety Power Outage Events (PSPS), including seniors in more rural areas of Nevada County. Interfaith Food Ministry will use grant funding to purchase a generator to prevent food spoilage at a PSPS event and a commercial truck to transport food.
“The CDBG grant will impact our more than 11,000 clients,” said Phil Alonso, executive director of the Ministry of Interfaith Food. “We use the funds in two main areas of intervention. First, upgrading our equipment and facilities, with a refrigerated van truck and a generator for the building. Second, we will expand our programs with customer education. We truly see educating clients as the best way to reduce food insecurity in the long run. For example, a fundraising plan will be to build a commercially certified cold kitchen, for cooking classes and other educational opportunities for clients and volunteers.
“We are thrilled and grateful for this joint grant with the County of Nevada that will help provide meals to our most vulnerable seniors in our community,” added Janeth Marroletti, Executive Director of Senior Services at Gold Country. “Seniors who are frail, homebound and unable to prepare meals depend on the Meals on Wheels program for their nutrition. This grant will help expand the In-Home Meal Program to provide additional meals to seniors in need in all parts of Western Nevada County. In addition to meals, this grant will also help provide long-life meals in anticipation of power outages and snowfall to ensure seniors have access to food resources. Coming together to support seniors in our community is a great example of collaboration between local government and the non-profit organization.
About CDBG Funding
The Health and Social Services Agency, through its Housing and Community Services Division (HCS), received funding from CDBG to reduce food insecurity. CDBG partners with cities and rural counties to improve the lives of their low and moderate income residents through the creation and expansion of community and economic development opportunities in support of livable communities.
