County’s food pantry among applicants for grant funding

    Governor Ricketts announced at a recent press conference that a statewide grant program for food pantries was available.
    The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) has developed a grant program to assist food pantries in purchasing refrigerator and freezer units to store perishable food.
    The city of Imperial, on behalf of the Chase County Food Pantry, has applied for one of the grants. The pantry is located in the Imperial city office building.
    Due to the stresses of COVID-19, the demand on food pantries has skyrocketed, said Steve Martin, AFAN executive director.
    “Dairy producers have had to dump milk due to market disruptions,” Martin said.
    A farmer near Wayne had the idea of buying milk to donate to his local food pantry.
    However, the pantry didn’t have refrigeration for it, so he worked with his local dairy association to provide refrigeration to the pantry.
    AFAN joined forces with Midwest Dairy to create a grant fund for 25 additional food pantries, said Martin.
    These pantries serve over 40,000 people every month, he added.
    “We are now rolling out the grant program statewide,” he said.
    The grant is up to $4,000 per food pantry to purchase refrigerators and freezers along with the associated delivery and installation costs.
Local food pantry
    Jo Leyland, city clerk/administrator, heard about the grant while listening to the governor’s press conference.
    “I contacted Nancy Terryberry, president of the local food pantry, and told her I would fill out an application for the grant,” Leyland said.
    After contacting Martin at AFAN for further information, Leyland submitted an application in Terryberry’s name for grant money, she said.
    “Milk is the highest asked for commodity at food pantries,” said Martin.
    All the milk that is being thrown out could have been going to people needing it at food pantries if they had only had a way to store it, said Leyland.
    “Not only would this grant provide refrigeration and freezer space for our food pantry and help citizens in need, it would also benefit a local vendor with the purchase,” she said.
    Terryberry is now waiting to hear back on an approval for the grant money.
    “The pantry is not open to the public just yet, but we have been providing food items by call-in orders for now,” she said.
    To request help with food from the local pantry, contact Terryberry at 308-882-8019.