What The Award Will Support
Barnstable County announced on October 26 that it has received a $248,084 state grant to strengthen the network moving donated food to Cape Cod residents. Cape Cod Cooperative Extension will lead the project with community partners. The funding is from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program.
The county plans to fund a refrigerated van, additional freezer and storage equipment, donation-tracking tools, and training. Scales will support measurement of collected food. These purchases address the practical steps between an offer of surplus food and its distribution: collecting it, keeping it in suitable storage, and coordinating where it goes.
For Residents Looking For Food
The county’s Food Access and Resources page links to a directory of pantries, meal sites, soup kitchens and elder services. Start there to find an organization to contact, then confirm its current arrangements before making the trip. The grant announcement does not establish a new public pickup location or a date when the planned equipment will enter service.
If transportation is the obstacle, the same resources page offers a request form for help reaching food locations and, in some cases, food delivery. The county warns that requests are numerous and a response may take time. For an urgent food need, it directs residents to contact a local pantry or meal site while waiting. A request is not confirmation of a ride or delivery.
For Businesses And Volunteers
Businesses with surplus food and people interested in transporting donations can use the county’s existing food-rescue contact: Food Access Coordinator Andrea Scarpellini, at 508-375-6944. Ask about participation and collection arrangements before setting food aside for a pickup. The county’s resources page provides the contact details alongside its donation and volunteering information.
What To Watch Next
This is an equipment and coordination award, with benefits intended to develop as the project proceeds. The announcement does not report completed purchases or a measured increase in food distributed. Future county updates on delivery of the equipment and participating sites will help show how the award translates into service.
