The Town of Orange has increased its contributions to two local food pantries.
On Monday, director of finance Dianna Gomez presented $10,000 donations to representatives of the Love Outreach Food Pantry and Clothes Closet and Good Samaritan, Inc. The two non-profit organizations assist Orange County residents in need by providing food and clothing. The $10,000 donations are in addition to the $6,000 the town council allocates annually to the two organizations.
Earlier this month, Gomez suggested the increased donations due to the town’s receipt of a federal grant. In January, 7th District Congressman Eugene Vindman announced that $800,000 had been secured to update the town’s water treatment process. The funds will be used to construct a liquid feed building, modernizing the water treatment process. The upgrade will reduce reliance on dry chemicals, improve treatment reliability and bring the town’s system in line with neighboring localities.
With the grant, which is actually $1 million, came a 20% local match that would need to be paid by the town–hence the $800,000 announcement. However, Gomez said the Environmental Protection Agency grants waivers if certain criteria is met, one of which is exceeding the state average for residents utilizing SNAP and other food benefits. Because 14.8% of town residents use benefits, which is above the state average of 11.7%, the waiver was granted.
“It bothered me that we now have statistics, but we’re not giving more to the food pantries when that is the need,” Gomez said. “It’s the only reason we got the waiver. I felt we should give more.”
Council members agreed, approving the donations. Both organizations were thankful for the increased contributions.
A Love Outreach representative said the pantry, which has been operating since 1982, served 7,085 individuals across 2,329 households from January through July 26. It averages 330 households served each month. Gifts like the donation from the town enables the pantry to purchase items that aren’t always found in a typical food pantry such as turkeys for Thanskgiving.
Good Samaritan Program Director Valencia Bailey said as of last week, the organization has served 9,179 people. It also operates a feeding program and backpacks at the high school. She said with the additional donation, the nonprofit can purchase items that it used to receive for free from the USDA such as shelf stable milk and orange juice for seniors.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Bailey said. “It truly makes a difference.”
