West Alabama non-profit taps into emergency fund for food assistance grant

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – A west Alabama non-profit is putting more money into fighting food insecurity caused by the federal government shutdown.

The United Way of West Alabama started a food assistance grant to ease hunger concerns across several counties.

The organization’s executive director, Jackie Wuska, wants to get more food to families in nine counties through this effort.

Wuska said they tapped into an emergency fund to put $50,000 into 75 food banks across west Alabama.

Most federal employees haven’t been paid in nearly a month and SNAP benefits for the month of November have not been released yet, forcing food pantries to serve even more people than before.

“Our food pantries are able to get subsidized meals from the West Alabama Food Bank. That means that they can get meals at a fraction of the cost,” Wuska explained. “So, we’ll be providing funds to fund the food pantries directly so they can get these discounted meals and make the funds go even further.”

The United Way of West Alabama will issue weekly grants ranging from $250 to $500 to food panties in the West Alabama Food Bank network.

To apply for the grant program, visit UWWA.org.

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