Sussex County awards last pandemic-era recovery funds to Food Bank of Delaware

March 22, 2024

Sussex County is making a sizeable deposit when it comes to battling hunger in southern Delaware.

County officials on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, announced a $750,000 award to the Food Bank of Delaware that will go toward food purchases for Sussex County families in need. Funding comes by way of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Under ARPA, Sussex County received $45.5 million in federal assistance aimed at COVID-19 pandemic recovery, and the County has since earmarked that funding for a variety of initiatives, including public safety, affordable housing, wastewater infrastructure, low-income services, and other qualifying efforts.

With this award, the County will have allocated and awarded all of its ARPA funds, which must be distributed by the end of this year. County officials said the sizeable donation to the Food Bank of Delaware is possible, in part, as some other previously intended recipients or initiatives no longer needed the ARPA resources. Food insecurity, though, is an ever-present need.

“Sussex County has a long track record of helping those in need, whether that’s through offering tax assistance programs, or with our annual Caroling on The Circle food drive program each holiday season,” County Council President Michael H. Vincent said. “We are proud to continue those efforts with this award, which will make tremendous strides in supporting the Food Bank of Delaware’s mission to put food on the table and help strengthen our communities.”

The grant will be 100 percent directed to purchasing food items to stock the Food Bank of Delaware’s shelves at its Milford facility, and distributed to recipients who live in Sussex County.