By Kara Jeffers
BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa. (WENY) — Pennsylvania is investing more than $4 million to help reduce food waste and fight hunger statewide, with funding heading to a Bradford County nonprofit that supports families in need.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the funding is being distributed through the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant Program, which helps food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens safely store, transport, and prepare fresh food that would otherwise go to waste. In Bradford County, Child Hunger Outreach Partners is receiving $50,000, the maximum grant amount available per applicant.
State officials say the program is designed to strengthen local food recovery efforts by reimbursing nonprofits for equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, vehicles, and kitchen appliances needed to redistribute food safely.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Shapiro Administration to address food insecurity while reducing landfill waste. State data shows food waste is the largest single component of Pennsylvania’s waste stream, with an estimated 1.6 million tons disposed of each year.
DEP officials say keeping edible food out of landfills not only helps families but also reduces environmental impacts tied to decomposing waste.
Grants were awarded to nonprofits across dozens of counties, with priority given to projects serving communities with the greatest need.