The Phoenix Food Hub and Greater Lynn Senior Services invite community organizations to apply for funding that supports nutrition initiatives and the reduction of food insecurity in Lynn. This funding will support community initiatives that meet a specific and demonstrated need, serve populations that are typically harder to reach, and strengthen collaboration across the local and regional food security network. Funding for the Community Grant Program is made possible by Mass General Brigham.
Phoenix Food Hub is located on the ground floor of GLSS’ office building located at 8 Silsbee Street in downtown Lynn. It serves people of all ages in and around the Lynn area—a one-stop shop where individuals and families at risk of nutrition insufficiency can access a variety of resources to help them better manage their overall health and well-being. It is an initiative of the Lynn Food Security Task Force—a consortium of 14 community organizations, including GLSS, working together to address the root causes of hunger. Catholic Charities—also a member of the Food Security Task Force—operates a food pantry on site.
“Phoenix Food Hub is a true community collaboration, and by providing this funding, we hope to draw in more organizations which share our vision for addressing health disparities and food insecurity from a grass roots, community-wide perspective,” says Kathryn C. Burns, GLSS’ Chief Executive Officer. Currently, GLSS and its partner organizations are offering healthy cooking classes; nutrition education and counseling; information and referral; and a new program called “Food and Thought,” which provides education and counseling to individuals interested in addressing the important link between nutrition and mental well-being.
“We plan to award up to $125,000 this year and hope to promote as many projects as possible,” Burns states. “We are excited to hear others’ ideas for creatively addressing this critical challenge facing our community.”
More information, instructions, and an application form can be found at www.phoenixfoodhub.org/For-Providers. The funding period runs from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. Deadline for applications is Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Questions may be addressed to Andrew Wallace, Community Grants Administrator, by phone at 781-599-0110, Ext. 6702, or by email at awallace@glss.net.