ATLANTA – The General Board of Global Ministries has announced a grant to support hunger-relief efforts in the United States. The agency will provide a $500,000 grant to support a Feeding America regional food sourcing initiative, which includes reclaiming and distributing surplus produce, protein and dairy to communities where access to nutritious food is limited. The initiative partners with farmers, distributors and wholesalers in its efforts.
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, supporting a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks and over 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. Feeding America’s recovery and redistribution plan includes highly sought after foods that are challenging for food banks and neighbors to obtain due to cost and availability. At the core of the effort are 11 regional cooperatives (co-ops) located in agriculturally rich regions. The co-ops partner with farmers, distributors and wholesalers to claim excess food and distribute it nationwide. UMCOR’s grant supports co-op operations, shared transportation and critical infrastructure (e.g., protein pack rooms, automation equipment) to reduce spoilage, increase variety and expand access, especially in communities most impacted by hunger.
“Feeding America is uniquely equipped to lead a large-scale food distribution initiative like this,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary for Global Ministries, Higher Education and Ministry and UMCOR. “With a vast network of partner food banks and agencies, they reach millions of individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.”
“Global Ministries’ support strengthens the Feeding America network’s ability to help ensure more fresh, nutritious food reaches communities where it is needed most,” said Casey Marsh, Feeding America’s Chief Development Officer. “Their grant will help share more produce, protein and dairy with neighbors nationwide, supporting families facing hunger and strengthening local communities.”
The grant to Feeding America builds on Global Ministries’ recent community-based Feeding our Neighbors initiative, which provided 150 $2,000 emergency food grants to local churches to extend their pantry ministries. A new program will launch in early 2026.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2023 report, more than 47 million people in the U.S. were living in food insecure households, or one in seven people. A range of factors, such as cuts to federal food programs, inflation, stagnant wages, job loss, high housing costs and rising food prices contribute to food insecurity in the U.S.
The General Board of Global Ministries, which includes the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), is the international mission, humanitarian relief and development organization of The United Methodist Church. Global Ministries connects the church in mission and alleviates human suffering to spread God’s love and Christ’s caring presence. Global Ministries works in more than 100 countries, often through partners, to send missionaries, strengthen churches, improve community health, care for the environment and provide disaster response and humanitarian relief.
Media Contacts:
Susan Clark
Chief Communications Officer, General Board of Global Ministries
Communications@umcmission.org
