StopWaste has awarded a total of $1 million in grant funding to 64 businesses, non-profits, and institutions in Alameda County for projects focused on food waste prevention, surplus food recovery, reusable foodware, community food systems, reuse, repair, and reusable transport packaging. With funding amounts ranging from $5K to $50K per grant award, the program engages entities from different industries to not only advance waste prevention, but to support efforts that boost resilient community food systems and reduce our negative impact on the environment.

 

Examples of other grant-funded waste prevention projects include:

 

Alameda Boys & Girls Club, a youth development organization, received a $5,000 grant to expand the farm stand project that provides free or low-cost surplus garden produce grown on site to the local community and parents.

 

Project Open Hand provides nutritious meals to critically ill neighbors and seniors. A $10K grant will be used to purchase a three-door refrigerator to store and keep the produce fresher for a longer time. The equipment will allow Project Open Hand to expand the quantity and type of produce they can offer their clients.

 

r.Cup provides reusable cup service for live events in several large cities in the US. A $50K grant will help r.Cup expand to Alameda County, funding initial operations and offering incentives for venues and events to adopt reusable cup systems.

 

ReUp by Kay Chesterfield Inc is a B-corp commercial re-upholstery facility. The $20K grant will be used to create and implement training and apprentice programs in re-upholstery and upholstery sewing to address the lack of professional upholsterers who can provide services. Currently, the industry does not have enough labor force to continue this important trade.

 

Essential Food and Medicine (EFAM) works to build collective immunity by providing essential holistic, immune wellness juices, smoothies, and natural medicines for our unhoused neighbors, frontline workers, residents over 65 years of age, non-citizens, formerly incarcerated, the immunocompromised and mobility limited residents. Funds will support EFAM's usage of gleaned and donated produce to make nutrient-rich juices and soups that are distributed to displaced and transient individuals residing in West Oakland.

 

StopWaste acknowledges the many thoughtful grant proposals submitted and is looking forward to seeing the impact of the projects as they are implemented. The next grant cycle is planned for February 2024. Explore a searchable list of past and current grantees and their awards, and to sign up to be notified of future grant cycles visit www.StopWaste.org/grants.