The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced they are awarding 35 Food Storage Capacity grants to assist local food pantries. More than $204,000 was distributed that will allow the pantries to purchase Energy Star refrigerators, freezers and additional shelving. This will expand capacity for donation receipts and allow for proper storing of perishable and non-perishable food items for longer periods of time. “Without these improvements, many food pantries may have had to limit the amount of food a family or an individual could receive,” says Tom Anderson, who is with the DNR’s Financial and Business Assistance program. “Expanding their capacity for food storage not only addresses these limitations, but also helps reduce the amount of edible food being landfilled by having a place to store food and extending food shelf life.” Locally: New Opportunities in Carroll received $7,756 for refrigerators and shelving; the Greene County Christian Action Resource Center in Jefferson received $3,500 for a commercial freezer; Opportunity Living in Lake City was granted $10,000 for a walk-in cooler; and the South Central Calhoun Community School District’s Rockwell City building received $1,200 for a chest freezer and refrigerator.
