Grant Boosts Scranton Nonprofit’s Effort to Build Vital Food Distribution Hub for the Community

A Scranton nonprofit is set to expand its food distribution efforts thanks to a significant grant. Friends of the Poor recently secured a $413,013 Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grant. This funding will help them build a centralized cold-storage hub for food, an essential upgrade for their operations.

The new facility will be located in a warehouse at 240 E. Elm St., which the organization currently uses for their furniture bank. It will feature two large refrigerators and a freezer, vastly surpassing their existing equipment. Right now, their walk-in cooler only fits four pallets of food. The new hub will be over twenty times that size, allowing them to serve more people effectively.

“Currently, we serve over 160,000 people annually. Our existing space just isn’t enough,” said Meghan Loftus, the organization’s president and CEO. “We often go through our supply in just a day or two.”

This expansion will also impact staffing. The organization plans to relocate the furniture bank and potentially hire more employees once the new hub is operational.

With the larger storage capacity, Friends of the Poor can buy more perishable food in bulk and accept donations more efficiently. This change will streamline food distribution in the area, reducing travel time for partners and ensuring people have access to fresh, healthy options.

Loftus noted that the demand for food assistance has risen dramatically. After doubling since 2021, requests for help increased by another 15% last year. This spike is partially due to rising living costs and the fact that many families rely on school meals that are unavailable during the summer.

“This grant isn’t just about us,” Loftus emphasized. “It will benefit the entire community and every agency involved in emergency food distribution.”

The new cold-storage unit is expected to be operational by next spring. Friends of the Poor is one of four organizations in Northeast Pennsylvania to receive Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure grants aimed at strengthening local food supply chains. Other grant recipients include:

• The Food Dignity Project in Luzerne County, awarded $723,839 to build cold storage and support local farms.
• Michael Family Farm, also in Luzerne County, received $77,023 for dairy processing equipment to expand market offerings.
• Hopkins Farm in Wyoming County, which got $749,496 to enhance vegetable processing and cold storage.

These investments are crucial for rebuilding local food networks and meeting the community’s growing demand for fresh food. The push for improved food distribution systems reflects a broader movement across the country, with many organizations recognizing the importance of access to healthy, affordable food.

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