COVID-19: Matching Grant to Support Food Ministries
(May 13, 2020) As the number of people facing food insecurity rises during the coronavirus pandemic, the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is stepping up efforts to support those in need. Heeding our biblical call to feed the hungry, the diocese announces a matching grant project to provide an additional $60,000 to hunger ministries in our diocese.
Bishop-elect Deon K. Johnson announced that one-time grants will be available to our existing food ministries. The seed gift of $30,000 is coming from the diocese and a few anonymous individual contributors. The bishop-elect encourages our congregations, members from our parishes, and the community at large to make donations to match that amount, doubling the support to those in need.
“People want to feel they’re doing something to help out their neighbors during this crisis,” said Bishop-elect Johnson. “This gift will support the mission and ministry of the Church.”
“No words can express my overwhelming joy to hear of this matching grant,” said Jane Mayfield, chair of the Diocesan Task Force on Hunger. “It is an answer to prayer.”
The Task Force on Hunger distributes more than $20,000 each year in donations from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, its congregations and individuals. The additional funds from this matching grant will help provide for the growing number of people being served by our existing ministries during the coronavirus health and economic crisis.
“It’s hard to put a number on the amount of people that we help due to the diverse food ministries that our diocese has,” Mayfield said. “We fund weekly community meals for 100 and monthly community meals for a lower number. There are blessing boxes where people take what they need when they need it. There are food pantries that feed both families of five and households of one. We know that requests for food help are increasing daily.”
To Donate to the Matching Grant Fund:
Here's how you can help us reach our $60,000 goal:
To donate online with a credit card:
- Go to the DONATE page of this website (the DONATE tab is in the upper/right corner of each page of the website).
- Select “COVID-19 Food Ministries” from the dropdown menu of the Giving Details box.
- Follow the prompts to complete your donation.
To donate by mail with a check:
Please make your check payable to The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and include "Hunger ministries grant" on your memo line and mail it to:
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
c/o Ms. Desiree Brattin
1210 Locust St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
To Apply for a Grant:
Any and all parishes and ministries with existing food ministries within the diocese may apply for a grant from this special fund. These grants will be in addition to any grants you may already be receiving this year. You do not need to be a current grant recipient to apply for this special grant.
Here's how to apply:
- Download a special grant application here.Grant applications must be submitted no later than May 31, 2020.
- Submit your application to Jane Mayfield, Chair of the Task Force on Hunger: [email protected]
Grants will be awarded in June and July, 2020.