October 28, 2020
Cats' Cupboard receives Securing Local Food Systems grant
Submitted by Sarah McGreer Hoyt
Cats' Cupboard: The K-State Food Pantry has been awarded a $24,000 Securing Local Food Systems grant administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The grant was made possible through the second round of federal CARES Act funding and approved by the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas, or SPARK, Task Force. The initiative, which was created to increase capacity of Kansas' local food systems, was available to for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, including direct-to-consumer producers/growers/vendors, food processors, slaughter and processing facilities, food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, farmers markets and retail food outlets such as grocery stores.
The grant money can be used for a wide scope of expenses related to increasing the capacity of these food-related organizations due to COVID-19. In the case of Cats' Cupboard, funds will cover the costs of facility reconfiguration to comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines, increased storage and shelving, improved technology and much more. The grant period allows for expenses incurred March 1, 2020, through Dec. 30, 2020.
Cats' Cupboard was one of four awardees in Riley County. More than 180 grants ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 were given to food-related businesses across the state.