Politics & Government

$165K More In ARPA Funds Committed To The Salem Pantry

The new allocation, as augmented SNAP funds expire, brings ARPA funding targeted for The Salem Food Pantry to $400,000.

"With this support, we can work collaboratively to prepare for future events that impact the health and food resources in our community." - Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry
"With this support, we can work collaboratively to prepare for future events that impact the health and food resources in our community." - Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry (Scott Souza/Patch)

SALEM, MA — An additional $165,000 in city American Recovery Plan Act funding has been committed to The Salem Pantry to help offset the expiration of federal SNAP benefits that were expanded during the COVID-19 health crisis.

The additional allocation brings to nearly $400,000 in ARPA funding that Salem has committed to the Pantry and The Market location, which will be the Pantry's new brick-and-home for food dispersal and programs.

"With this support, we can work collaboratively to prepare for future events that impact the health and food resources in our community. We have seen record-breaking numbers of monthly pantry visits," Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry, said.

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The city said The Market by The Salem Pantry in the city's Point Neighborhood, at the corner of Congress Street and Leavitt Street, is designed to provide a "free, dignified shopping experience for pantry guests from Salem and the North Shore." The Market will be open five days a week, including weekend and evening hours, and will carry a wide range of dairy, fresh produce, nonperishables and protein options.

"Our role in government is to make sure our most vulnerable members can get support when facing challenging times," Salem Acting Mayor Bob McCarthy said. "We have dedicated these once-in-a-lifetime federal dollars from ARPA to ensure there is no gap in service from our local partners in providing healthy meals for anyone looking for it."

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Salem Pantry's "Food is Medicine" pilot project with North Shore Physician's Group, Salem Hospital, and North Shore Community Health will also be located at the Market. Additional services will include cooking demonstrations and community health and nutrition screenings.

A program to provide transportation from the Salem Council on Aging to The Salem Pantry via the Salem Skipper municipal ride-sharing service is also under development using state and federal grant subsidies.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations.

Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)


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