September 23, 2020

The Center for the Advancement of Public Action's Community Resource Fund seeks applications for implementing catalyzing, collaborative projects that further our understanding of local food systems and leverages innovative solutions to address food insecurity in Bennington County. Projects can involve—but are not limited to—data analysis; research; amplifying existing projects in the community; designing new models or structures for implementation; and/or business development.

With the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Community Resource Fund will offer $3,000-$5,000 grants from a total pool of $20,000 to members of the community pursuing projects related to food insecurity in Bennington.

There are no eligibility requirements to apply; all applicants under 18 years of age will need to identify an adult supervisor in the Team Members section of the application. All grantees will be expected to participate in brief presentations at the end of the grant period to reflect on their work. Applications are due by October 31, 2020.

Last year, Bennington College and CAPA awarded $15,000 (total) to Willy's Variety Store, PAVE, and Shire's Housing. Read more about these projects.

A Complex Systems Approach to Food Insecurity

Bennington College and CAPA are in the second year of an initiative to address the systemic causes of the problem of food insecurity in Bennington County. We are centering our practice-based research and projects in collaboration with a talented and committed group of community, health, and public K-12 education partners who have been working on the frontlines of this issue for many years: Southwestern Vermont Health Care, an integrated medical health system that includes a 99-bed community hospital; Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, the local public school district; and Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services (GBICS), which runs Kitchen Cupboard, a food distribution program that serves over 1,300 families in Bennington (one in four) per year.