Durham County opens micro-grant program aimed at combating food insecurity – ABC11

Durham County Micro-Grant Program Addresses Food Insecurity in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: A Localized Response to a Global Challenge

• Durham County has initiated a Food Security Micro-Grant program to combat rising local food insecurity.
• This initiative directly supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2): Zero Hunger by empowering local non-profit organizations.
• The program provides critical financial resources to agencies and organizations already engaged in food security work within the community.

Program Impact on SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The grant is designed to enhance the capacity of community-based food pantries and distribution centers to meet escalating demand.
• Michael Page, Senior Pastor at Antioch Baptist Church, highlighted the unprecedented need, stating, “The need became so great… We don’t want people to be hungry, and we don’t want children without food.”
• The church’s food pantry, a 20-year community staple, is experiencing its greatest-ever demand, underscoring the urgency of achieving SDG 2 targets.
• Aalayah Sanders of the Salvation Army of Durham, Orange and Person counties noted that “the face of hunger looks like any one of us,” emphasizing the universal importance of food security.

Addressing Interconnected SDGs: Poverty, Health, and Sustainable Communities

1. SDG 1 (No Poverty): The program addresses a key dimension of poverty. Durham County Food Security Coordinator Raina Goldstein Bunnag identified inflation and policy changes as contributing factors, linking the need for food aid directly to economic hardship.
2. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Grant funds have been utilized to purchase essential infrastructure, such as freezers and refrigerators. This investment enables organizations to store and distribute fresh, nutritious food, which is crucial for positive health outcomes.
3. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By supporting grassroots organizations, the program strengthens community resilience and ensures that vulnerable populations have access to basic necessities, making the community more inclusive and sustainable.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The micro-grant program exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, a core principle of SDG 17.
• Key partners in this initiative include:
  • Durham County Government (Public Sector)
  • Durham Congregations in Action (Administrative Partner)
  • Local non-profits and faith-based organizations like Antioch Baptist Church and the Salvation Army (Civil Society)
• Pastor Page described the grant as “critical,” stating, “The need continues to grow. It really helps us provide this kind of support. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” demonstrating the effectiveness of such partnerships.

Program Administration and Conclusion

• The application period for the grant closes on December 12.
• This initiative serves as a vital local mechanism for advancing global sustainable development objectives, proving that targeted, community-level action is essential for achieving a world with zero hunger.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This is the most direct and central SDG addressed in the article. The entire piece focuses on the problem of “food insecurity a significant issue” in Durham County. It highlights efforts to combat hunger through food pantries and distribution events, with quotes like, “We don’t want people to be hungry, and we don’t want children without food.”

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  Food insecurity is a primary dimension of poverty. The article implicitly links the issue to economic hardship by mentioning “inflation” as a contributing factor. The efforts to provide free food alleviate the financial burden on low-income individuals and families, directly addressing a key aspect of poverty.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article showcases a multi-stakeholder partnership to address food insecurity. It describes a collaboration between a public entity (Durham County government, which funds the grant), a coordinating body (“Durham Congregations in Action,” which administers the program), and civil society organizations (“nonprofit agencies and organizations” like Antioch Baptist Church and the Salvation Army) that carry out the work on the ground.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

   The initiatives described, such as the Antioch Baptist Church’s food pantry and the Salvation Army’s “weekly free food Fridays event,” are direct actions aimed at achieving this target. The micro-grant program’s purpose is to supply organizations with money to ensure they can continue providing food to those in need, as evidenced by the statement that the grant is “critical to keep the food pantry afloat.”

2. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   The “Food Security Micro-Grant program” is a clear example of this target in action. It represents a public-civil society partnership where Durham County provides the financial resources (“money”), which are then channeled through Durham Congregations in Action to support the work of local non-profits. This structure leverages the strengths of each partner to achieve a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Prevalence of food insecurity: The article establishes the problem by stating “food insecurity a significant issue” and noting that “The need continues to grow.” A key indicator of progress would be the measurement and reduction of the prevalence of food insecurity within Durham County.
• Number of beneficiaries served by food assistance programs: The article mentions a “Thanksgiving food drive” and a “weekly free food Fridays event.” An implied indicator is the number of individuals or families who receive food from these programs. Tracking this number would measure the reach and impact of the interventions.
• Financial resources mobilized for food security: The “Food Security Micro-Grant program” is a specific financial mechanism. The total amount of money disbursed through these grants to non-profits is a direct and quantifiable indicator of the resources being dedicated to fighting hunger through this partnership.
• Number of organizations supported by the partnership: The program aims to supply “nonprofit agencies and organizations” with funds. An indicator of the partnership’s scale and effectiveness would be the number of organizations that successfully apply for and receive grants to support their food security work.

4. Table of Identified SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abc11.com