Berkshire Food Project Awarded Staffing Grant

01:00PM / Saturday, November 15, 2008

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Food Project has received $9,500 from a state program for use in food stamp outreach and application assistance.

The grant was awarded by the nonprofit Project Bread, the state's leading anti-hunger organization.

"The Project Bread outreach and assistance funding we receive helps us to provide online food stamp applications to those who cannot easily access their local Department of Transitional Assistance office," said Valerie Schwarz, the local food assistance agency's project manager. "It's also worth mentioning that we are able to provide online food stamp assistance to the elderly, many of whom never knew they were eligible for food stamp benefits."

Since 1987, Berkshire Food Project has been helping vulnerable residents of Northern Berkshire County to access nutritious food through a free hot lunch program at First Congregational Church and by providing referrals to other community and state-run agencies.

Staffed mainly by volunteers with one paid employee, Berkshire Food Project serves approximately 100 clients and 15,000 free meals per year and growing. Recently, the organization went from providing three meals per week to providing five at the church's hall.

State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield,and Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, announced the grant on Friday.

"As winter approaches, families should never be forced to make a choice between food and hea," said Bosley. "The Berkshire Food Project serves as a strong link in the line of defense against hunger. This grant from Project Bread is well deserved and critical for the Berkshire Food Project to continue its mission to serve the people of the Berkshires."

The grant, in collaboration with the state Department of Transitional Assistance, allows staff at the Berkshire Food Project to provide application assistance to clients using the state's Virtual Gateway online food stamp application. The goal of the initiative is to increase enrollment in the Food Stamp Program by providing eligible applicants a convenient, supportive and secure way to apply online.

"Having access to nutritious food is key to maintaining good health," said Downing. "With the help of Project Bread and community-based programs like Berkshire Food Project, people struggling to make ends meet can quickly get the help they need to put quality food on the table. This funding will help identify those in need of assistance who otherwise might not realize they're eligible."

Project Bread’s grant is also part of an initiative to leverage additional federal funding into low-income communities by increasing participation in federally reimbursed food programs. These additional resources will help deliver food to our most vulnerable populations.

To learn more about available resources at Berkshire Food Project, call 413-664-7378, or tune-in to "Food For Thought" on Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp.

For additional information about Project Bread: www.projectbread.org or call 617-723-5000.