Delaware lawmakers set record for nonprofit grant funding

DELAWARE.- Delaware lawmakers have succeed in efforts to provide more support for nonprofits across the first state.

“We want to make sure to make a clear statement in physical year 2021, the state of Delaware was going to be standing alongside those who took care of us,” said Sen. Ernie Lopez.

Delaware lawmakers are excited over the $63.2 million dollars dedicated to Grant-in-Aid legislation.

The funding will be spread across the first state in areas of public health, emergency services, and more. One organization receiving funding will be the Food Bank of Delaware. “We very grateful for the money and it’ll help us make sure that we continue to meet the food needs of those struggling to make ends meet,” said Communication Director Kim Turner.

The Food Bank of Delaware will receive over $200,000 dollars of funding, which was an increase from previous years.

I’m told the funding will help assist in many programs like their mobile pantry initiative and backpack program for kids. “That program enables us to provide bags full of food for kids who are at first of hunger during the weekends and school meal programs are not available,” said Turner.

All grant-aid funding came from the $5 billion dollar state budget, and lawmakers say the ultimate goal was to help get organizations back to pre-covid numbers. “I feel confident that when Delawareans sit down and look at the allocations that were made and made thoughtfully by members of the general assembly, they’ll be very pleased to see organizations get support who again worked very hard to support them over the last very difficult year,” said Senator Lopez.

The Food  of Delaware says 69% of people coming to their large drive thru pantry had never needed help before, adding they’ve served over 49,000 households during the pandemic and given out over 21 million pounds of food.