listen to this articleBaltimore City on Friday awarded a $200,000 grant from the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) to advance important programs that improve community health. Obtained.
Baltimore was one of five cities to receive grants totaling $600,000. The winning cities were announced during the AAMA National Conference in Washington, April 24-27.
The City of Baltimore will use the funds to fund the Baltimore City Produce Box distribution program, the first in Maryland, created in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide 15-pound boxes of fresh, locally grown produce to Baltimore residents in Healthy Food Priority Areas. The Produce Box Distribution Program is unique in that it partners with more than 100 community organizations to help distribute produce at scale.
Baltimore won this award in the large city category. In the small city category, the medium-sized cities of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Richmond, Virginia each received grants of $125,000, while Mount Vernon, New York, and North Miami, Florida received two grants of $75,000. Awarded.
ABFHA and AAMA are in the second year of a three-year initiative to award grants to cities.
Mayors in selected cities will use the funds to support critical resources such as community gardens, food pantries, produce distribution, and healthy cooking classes for families. These funds will help attract additional investment in the nutrition challenges these cities face.
Funding from this program will benefit cities that have shown measurable progress in several areas, including increased access to affordable basic nutritional needs and an educational component to help market the program to the mayor’s community. Targeted at the program. Providing community assistance and educating the public about the benefits of the program. Attract matching grants and other investment funds.
