Margaret Cowell, Program Administrator

The Office of Food Security will tackle the challenge of food insecurity in Mercer County by identifying and eliminating barriers that stand between residents and access to a stable diet of nutritious food. The office will direct funding to invest with agencies, partners, and organizations that are dedicated to fighting hunger in Mercer County, prioritizing five key initiatives that will drive down food insecurity:

• Grants to establish a Food Hub, which will serve the most vulnerable residents in the City of Trenton
• Fresh food grants to meet the demand of existing food pantries, nonprofits, and community organizations
• Collaborations with existing stakeholders on data-sharing agreements and opportunities to mine data toward solutions-oriented initiatives
• Grants for nonprofits to implement innovative projects and measures
• A restaurant voucher pilot program that will engage culturally diverse restaurants and/or independent small grocery stores to create a voucher program for Latino families and older individuals experiencing food insecurity