To help local food banks and pantries meet the increasing needs in the community, the Marin Community Foundation is making grants to 11 local emergency food programs totaling $250,000.

"The stories are clear and compelling," said MCF President Thomas Peters in announcing the awards. "Given the severe economic downtown, many more people, including families with young children, need food, and providers are having trouble keeping up with the demand. This is a heart wrenching situation, and the Trustees of the Foundation want to extend a helping hand. We simply cannot have people waiting in line for food, only to find there's nothing on the shelves."

Peters added that the pressures on local social service organizations that provide other safety-net services are also growing, and the Foundation will be offering more assistance soon.

"We're fortunate to have a strong cadre of nonprofit and public agencies helping to ensure the health and well-being of our residents," he stated, "but all signs are that the current downturn will be long and deep, with many individuals, families, and children caught up in its effects. Need continues to outstrip resources, and we strongly encourage all Marin residents who can share their hearts and wallets to make the extra effort to help their fellow residents during these extraordinary times."

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 9:51 pm and is filed under Community Foundations, Grants Awarded, Nutrition and Healthy Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.