Dogwood Health Trust has announced $700K in emergency funding to help local communities purchase and distribute food to children and families in Western North Carolina (WNC) due to the recent disruptions in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit payments.
Approximately one in 10 people (11% of the population)** in Western North Carolina receive SNAP. The federal program is one of the most effective tools for reducing hunger and child poverty in the U.S. – a vital and valuable investment in the health, wellbeing, dignity and economic stability of families.
“As food costs rise and families experience delays and reductions in their SNAP benefits during the federal government’s shutdown, we must all do our part to help our neighbors have the food and nutrition they need,” said Dr. Susan Mims, president and CEO at Dogwood Health Trust. “We are grateful to our grantee partners who are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us to care for our communities in this challenging time.”
Dogwood’s emergency support will:
- Support Farmers and Fresh, Healthy Food Distribution
A grant to Tractor Food & Farms will help purchase local, fresh food from WNC farmers, and coordinate healthy food distribution to local communities. - Support Food Purchasing & Distribution through Food Pantries, Meal Sites and Community Organizations
Six regional WNC foundations will regrant dollars to efforts that feed families in the communities they serve: AMY Wellness Foundation (Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties); Gateway Wellness Foundation (“Operation SNAP Gap” in Burke, McDowell, Rutherford and Polk Counties); Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation (Highlands and Cashiers and surrounding areas); Nantahala Health Foundation (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary); Pisgah Health Foundation (Transylvania County); and WNC Bridge Foundation (all 18 WNC counties). Several of these foundations are investing complementary funding with Dogwood’s support.
Two active, existing Dogwood grants to MANNA FoodBank and WNC Communities are also helping with bulk food purchasing and healthy, fresh food distribution from farmers to community centers and food pantries respectively.
“Supporting a strong food system is part of Dogwood’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our region,” said Mims. “Beyond this emergency support, we have invested $10.4 million in food and farming efforts since 2019. We are hopeful that this emergency support will complement those efforts, and that SNAP will resume as soon as possible because private, philanthropic dollars cannot sustain these needs long-term.”
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About Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina with the sole purpose of dramatically improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities of 18 counties and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust focuses on innovative and equitable ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellbeing, with a focus on housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness. Dogwood Health Trust works to create a Western North Carolina where every generation can live, learn, earn and thrive, with dignity and opportunity for all, no exceptions. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org.
