Grant available for food-relief programs

Food pantries, churches, feeding programs and other nonprofit organizations may be eligible for a grant to increase the recovery of surplus edible food.

In Thurston County, 26,850 tons of food were thrown away in 2014, the largest single element in the trash, according to a news release from Thurston County Solid Waste.

A grant for a similar program in 2013 allowed the Thurston County Food Bank to purchase a refrigerated truck and renovate its kitchen, resulting in 33,000 ready-to-eat meals.

This year, $230,000 is available for equipment purchases or facility or vehicle modifications. No matching funds are required. The project is funded by a grant from the state Department of Ecology with a 25 percent match from Solid Waste.

Grant proposals are due Dec. 18. Information: WasteLessFood.com/FoodGrant, or contact Peter Buttchen, 360-867-2283, or guttchp@co.thurston.wa.us.

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Grant available for food-relief programs."