Press Release: County Commissioners Award Share Food Program $3.12M for Emergency Food Distribution Hub

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA – June 3, 2022 – Montgomery County Commissioners recently awarded a $3.12M Food Infrastructure Grant to Share Food Program, the region’s leading hunger-relief organization.

This grant, issued at the May 19 Commissioners meeting, will enable Share Food Program to create an emergency food distribution hub in Lansdale to serve Montgomery County residents via pantries and community-based organizations.

“To reach more families in need and provide equitable access to food for all, we have to start with our facilities. And we’re grateful of partners who recognize the hard work and support that has to go into that. Matters as serious and systemic as hunger require swift, thoughtful, and long-term action. This funding is a much-needed, impactful leap in the direction of nutritional equity and hunger relief for many.”

Carla Clanagan, Montgomery County Program Director at Share Food Program

While Share Food Program has served the area’s residents for years, this will be its first dedicated warehouse within the County, allowing the organization to bolster its local response efforts around chronic hunger and sudden emergencies.

This new warehouse will also house the MontCo Anti-Hunger Network (MAHN), a partner in Share food Program’s efforts to fight food insecurity in the County.

“MontCo Anti-Hunger Network (MAHN) is excited to be working with Share toward ensuring that no resident of Montgomery County goes to bed hungry or wakes up worried about putting food on their table. MAHN is grateful to be the recipients and agents of the Montgomery County Administration’s trust in our mutual efforts and dedication to ending food insecurity for the people of our community,” said a MAHN spokesperson.

“It’s hard to be healthy if you don’t have access to healthy food. This first of its kind warehouse in Montgomery County will be game-changing for our residents. We want to thank Share Food Program for all its hard work in serving the community, and for making space available for other partner organizations in our region to address this critical issue,” said Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “We all have seen the increased need for food assistance throughout the pandemic, Hurricane Ida devastation and now with global economic challenges and shortages. We know many families that never thought they would have to seek assistance from a food pantry have done so. We know that hunger disproportionally impacts children and communities of color. Like Share Food Program, the County wants to ensure everyone is able to access fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and food in a way that is easy, dignified, and equitable.”

The group expects work on the 27,000 sq. ft. warehouse to begin this year. 

###

About Share Food Program

Share Food Program is the leading hunger-relief organization in the Greater Philadelphia region, working to eradicate food insecurity through food distribution, education and advocacy. Through quality partnerships with nearly 800 schools and 400 community-based organizations across the region, Share Food Program serves hundreds of thousands of family members and neighbors in need in the Greater Philadelphia region every month.

To learn more and get involved, visit sharefoodprogram.org, or follow us on Facebook @sharefood and Twitter and Instagram @sharefoodphilly.