STARKSBORO — New Community Project (NCP) plans to use a $12,000 grant from the International Paper Foundation to help expand NCP’s Starksboro Area Food Justice Program.

NCP’s Food Justice Program addresses the environmental and social justice issues of food waste and food insecurity where they intersect in the local community. This program combines food rescued from grocery stores with organic garden produce grown at NCP’s Sustainable Living Center and the Starksboro Community Garden.

These funds will be used to help greatly expand NCP’s food growing capacity and respond to the increased need seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Pete Antos-Ketcham, NCP’s Vermont Sustainable Living Center Coordinator. Over the past year, 40 households a week visited NCP’s food programs, which distribute food on Friday and Sunday afternoons in partnership with the First Baptist Church of Starksboro.

“The pandemic brought the double challenge of disrupted food supplies along with increased need in our community,” Antos-Ketcham said. “It became clearer than ever that to meet current and future challenges we must be able to grow more food locally and sustainably. Support from area businesses and foundations like International Paper are essential as we rebuild local food systems and shorten supply lines for those in need. We are grateful that The International Paper Foundation is joining NCP in this significant way as we build a more secure path forward for our community post-pandemic.”

The International Paper Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.

Learn more at newcommunityproject.org.